Much like the Amazon deforestation, Lisbon & Dublin’s Housing Crisis or the bleaching of the coral reef, Venice’s Renewal should concern us all. Venice’s twin existential crises (rising waters and overtourism) are converging into a battle for its future. Below is a deeper look at the players, the pushback, and how you can help ensure the city thrives as more than a living museum.
Table of Contents
Rising Waters & Unrelenting Restoration
Venice has subsided nearly 25 cm (10 in) over the past century, while sea levels have risen about 30 cm (12 in), escalating the frequency of acqua alta (high-tide floods) by over 50% in just the last 30 years. Each flood brings saline damage to frescoes, wooden piles, and centuries‑old masonry, prompting an urgent—and incredibly costly—restoration effort.
Save Venice Inc., an American nonprofit founded in 1971, sits at the heart of this fight. With over 550 conservation campaigns and more than 2,000 artworks safeguarded and fresh funding since the November 2019 floods through their Immediate Response Fund. SVI combines hands-on restoration with public education and research, via the Rosand Library & Study Center.
MOSE: Leviathan or Lifesaver?
MOSE, Venice’s mobile barrier system at lagoon inlets, has partially fulfilled its promise, protecting the city from several high tide events. Yet controversy looms.
Delays, budget overruns, corruption probes, and concerns that the gates may alter lagoon ecology and degrade long-term effectiveness. Debate continues over its sustainability and the strain of ongoing maintenance.
Overtourism: The Final Straw
The historic core of Venice now houses fewer than 50,000 residents compared to 100,000 in the 1980s—while accommodating 25–30 million visitors annually.
Luxury events like Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s June wedding, attended by 200–250 VIP guests, prompted significant protests under the banner “No Space for Bezos”, bringing out local activists determined to highlight mass-tourism’s costs.
Simultaneously, June 15th saw cross-border mobilization by the Southern Europe Network Against Touristification, advocating for systemic change over mere tourist caps.
On the ground, groups like No Grandi Navi continue their campaign against mega-cruise ships: activists have physically blocked canals and parachuted giant banners on docks—demanding genuine restrictions and enforcement.
Other key players include:
- We Are Here Venice—engaging artists and locals through awareness drives on overtourism and climate threats.
- Campaign for a Living Venice—a node in the EU-wide movement, pushing beyond numbers to challenge the commodification of city life.
Join the pushback against overtourism
- Supporting petitions from We Are Here Venice or Campaign for a Living Venice.
- Donating or volunteering with No Grandi Navi.
- Spreading awareness: use their campaign hashtags and advocate for systemic reforms—from cruise bans to short-rental limits.
Sustainable Development: A Blueprint for the Future
Enter the Venice World Capital of Sustainability Foundation (VSF), established in March 2022 under Italian government patronage. It is spearheading Venice’s renewal through targeted initiatives, schemes and conservation.
Co-chaired by Renato Brunetta, Luca Zaia, and Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, VSF unites multiple stakeholders—including public authorities, cultural institutions, universities, and major companies. The aim? To build a holistic, ESG-based model of heritage conservation, social inclusion, innovation, and sustainable tourism.
Through cross-sectoral projects like the Aquamour water festival and sustainable mobility initiatives, VSF is transforming Venice into a “living laboratory”—an exemplar for urban resilience in many ways. Other cities facing the same issues could learn a thing or two from the sheer consistency of the activism seen across Venice – often mobilising thousands for both festival or protest.
Innovation on the Ground: Sustainable Cities Challenge
On way the city is trying to tackle Venice’s Renewal is through urban challenges. The Sustainable Cities Challenge, a crowdsourcing initiative for urban solutions, includes Venice among its flagship cities. A platform encouraging innovations in mobility, resource management, and community engagement, it offers thinkers and technologists a chance to propose real-world interventions in collaboration with VSF and local authorities.
A Call for Global Citizens
Visiting Venice Responsibly
- Skip day-trippers: Pay the €5–10 entry fee and stay at least a few nights.
- Choose small, local accommodations—not international chains.
- Patronize artisans, markets, and family-run eateries.
- Leave no trace: minimise your waste while there
- Conserve water in a city built on freshwater scarcity.
- Opt for mindful, certified eco-tours to learn about restoration efforts.
- Engage politically: sign petitions, support campaigns, and voice your stance on cruise ship regulation or rental caps.
The Road Ahead for Venice’s Renewal
Venice’s fate doesn’t belong solely to Venetians—it’s a global test case. As flooding escalates and local life erodes under tourist pressure, the city serves as a vivid example of what unchecked climate change and globalization can bring.
Despite all of the above challenges, the message from campaigners has been the same for years. The moment to act is now. Only together, can we help Venice survive and flourish as a model of sustainable urban living.
To achieve any inch of progress on this issue, residents concerns will always need to be prioritised over business concerns. More protections and laws will need to be enacted to reduce the amount of environmental damage that can occur. MOSE needs to reinstall trust in detractors, while media organisations need to continue to raise the issues in this city throughout the year, not just when disaster strikes.
Want to help Venice? Check Out Key Resources
Save Venice Inc. (since 1971): Donate to restorations and join conservation events.
- Venice World Capital of Sustainability Foundation (est. 2022): Partner on integrated development solutions.
- Sustainable Cities Challenge – Venice: Submit your ideas for urban sustainability.
- No Grandi Navi, We Are Here Venice, Campaign for a Living Venice: Support petitions, protests, and community-driven campaigns.
By combining restoration, defense systems, community activism, and innovative policy, Venice stands at the forefront of a new urban paradigm. But the tide will only turn if we all step up now—with action, awareness, and advocacy.
Discover more sustainability articles from Halftone Magazine.