Venice has escaped being added to Unesco’s list of World Heritage Sites in Danger list during the World Heritage Committee’s 45th Session last week.
In August, Unesco recommended adding Venice and its lagoon to its list of Heritage Sites that are in danger of losing their protected status, based on experts’ observations of how the city is under threat due to climate change and overtourism.
During the session on Thursday, September 14, the UN member states overlooked the experts’ warnings and voted against registering Venice on the danger list.
They praised Venice for its current conservation efforts, despite warnings issued to Italian authorities earlier this year saying not enough was being done to protect the city. The committee particularly approved of the new €5 (R100) fee for day-trippers to enter the Old City during peak days, implemented as a measure to combat overtourism.
“Great Victory at Unesco. Venice is not at risk,” tweeted Major Luigi Brugnaro. According to CNN, Brugnaro allegedly called the threat to add Vencie to the danger list purely political.
However, the Committee still emphasised the need for further measures and progress towards proper conservation. Italy has been given until December 2024 to present a detailed plan to Unesco, which will be discussed at the Committee’s next session in 2025.
The is the second time Venice has been on the brink of losing its World Heritage Site status. Two years ago, the city avoided the loss of protected status when the Italian government issued a ban on massive cruise ships entering the Giudecca Canal or the waters around St Mark’s Square.
A group of concerned scientists told AP News that the outcome of the vote signalled an alarming trend, where nations were not being held accountable for protecting some of the most iconic and irreplaceable natural and historic sites around the globe. The group emphasised that, regardless of threats created by overtourism, Venice was increasingly vulnerable to severe flooding and water damage.
