The Reimann et al.’s study draws attention to the importance of taking immediate action to both see these sites and to preserve them. Since Venice is such an extremely popular tourist destination and important site for renaissance and gothic art and architecture, there is little pushback from proposals to create high budgets to implement counter-flooding and -erosion measures. The so-called MOSE project (Modulo Sperimental Elettromeccanico), which has been in construction since the late 1980s, has set about constructing flood gates and has already cost the government approximately 6 billion Euros. But, will these efforts be enough to maintain the culturally-significant site indefinitely? Moreover, will the government have enough resources to preserve all 14 other Italian sites that are in danger. Will other governments such as Croatia, Greece, and Tunisia, who also have multiple sites at risk along the Mediterranean, be able to do the same?
The exact moment that these sites will be damaged by severe weather is uncertain, which is why we must act fast to see these beautiful and important sites and commit to countering climate change so that they may never be lost.