Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
Open Access

Abstract

Venice has been sinking for centuries, and as sea levels have risen exponentially, the sinking city has drawn more attention. The damages to infrastructure are focused on in the news, but the cultural damage of this sea level rise is often overlooked. The sudden increase in the rising sea level has led to an increase in tourism as tourists endeavor to visit Venice before significant physical damages to infrastructure occur. Additionally, this influx of tourists and the economic benefits that arise from tourism, along with the limited residential spaces available on the island have resulted in foreign (often temporary) residents supplanting native Venetians. While the benefits of tourism provide immediate economic resources for the city of Venice, ultimately tourism has resulted in an inauthentic Venetian culture that appears to be more performative rather than genuine. In this paper, I argue that while the damages to Venetian infrastructure are important, the intangible damage rising sea levels have had on the Venetian population must be considered to fully understand and solve the problems faced by the city.

Biography