Opening Panel: Sustainability and the Pitfalls of Beauty

Last September, Venice again escaped calls to include it on the list of endangered World Heritage sites. The panel rejecting UNESCO’s recommendation said efforts like banning cruise ships from the lagoon and installing a system of sea walls signaled progress in the battle against flooding and erosion. However, critics argue that these are temporary solutions that don’t do enough to counter the most pervasive threats to the city’s heritage: overtourism as well as rising sea levels caused by climate change. What is being done to mitigate the damage, and what lessons can be learned from cities with similar concerns? Can Venice be saved?