Press release
Venice Arsenal to be the prestigious headquarters of an international network
The Venice Water Authority – with the collaboration of Thetis and the Sustainability Solution Institute of the University of California at San Diego and the support of the Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea – organized a meeting of representatives from prestigious scientific institutes, and governmental and non-governmental organizations from around the world (USA, Australia, Japan, Holland, India, Great Britain and Italy) to discuss the following topics:
• Sea-level rise projections, their reliability and their potential impact on coastal populations and infrastructure;
• Climate change adaptation strategies and their implementation;
• Using science to aid decision-makers;
• Developing the technical ability to adapt to climate change impacts through monitoring, assessment and offering support to decision-makers;
• The need to participate in a network of international political, scientific and technical experts in order to share scientific knowledge, technical advancements, experience in the field and best management practices.
Maria Teresa Brotto, Chief Executive Officer of Thetis, stated “It is no coincidence that this conference was held in Venice. In fact, the city is an important case study due to its international prominence. The numerous studies performed in Venice and important conferences such as this one demonstrate that the physical and environmental measures taken in the Venice Lagoon, as well as the projects under construction, offer an important international model for the crucial and highly complex sustainable development process”.
For three days, representatives of academic institutions (Columbia University, Western Australia University, Wageningen University, Library of Alexandria), research institutions (Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change, ECEHH), governmental agencies and organizations (California Ocean Protection Council, Delta Committee) and non-profit organizations (World Bank) discussed international advancements in the field. Prof. C. Kennel of the Sustainability Solutions Institute of the University of California at San Diego, coordinator of the event, supports the theory that: “Climate change necessitates the adoption of an adaptive environmental management model that can identify and adjust to current and future changes, like the model used in Venice”.
The conference’s closing declaration, supported by all of the international experts, launches a new philosophy in which engineering works and measures are incorporated into environmental management. Since Venice has already taken measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change, it is viewed as a symbol and case study. The city may even become a world leader in this new adaptive approach, maintaining continuous contact with the international scientific community over the long term. For this reason, Venice was chosen as the headquarters of the international scientific network mentioned above. The “Mose System” and related works can counteract the anticipated effects of climate change and the related sea level rise, even if the worst-case scenario for the Adriatic occurs.
When the “Mose System” becomes operational in 2014, it will make Venice the world capital of coastal area management.
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