A man walks across an arcade by a flooded St. Mark's Square on Dec. 8 in Venice following a high tide "Alta Acqua" event following heavy rains and strong winds, and the mobile gates of the MOSE Experimental Electromechanical Module that protects the city of Venice from floods, were not lifted. ANDREA PATTARO / AFP / Getty Images
Flood waters swamped Venice's iconic Saint Mark's Square on Tuesday, despite the implementation of a barrier system that was supposed to protect the city from the flooding events that are getting more frequent because of the climate crisis.
<p>The water level rose to a high of 4.5 feet above sea level in the afternoon, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venice-flooded-as-new-8-billion-dam-system-fails-to-activate/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AFP reported</a>. This swamped St. Mark's Square, the lowest point in the city at only about three feet above sea level, as well as its historic basilica. </p>
<p>"The situation is terrible, we're under water in a dramatic way," the church's head procurator Carlo Alberto Tesserin told Italian media, as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/weather/2020/dec/08/venice-floods-as-forecasts-fail-to-predict-extent-of-high-tide" target="_blank">The Guardian reported</a>.</p><p>The flooding came despite the fact that the city had finally installed a system of retractable flood barriers called MOSE. However, the system failed to activate because of a mistaken weather forecast.</p><p>MOSE is designed to close its barriers before high tides of 1.3 meters (approximately 4.3 feet). However, Tuesday's tide was only predicted to rise to 1.2 meters (approximately 3.9 feet), instead of the 4.5 feet it eventually reached.</p><p>"The situation is really bad as we weren't expecting it," Matteo Secchi, head of the activist group Venessia.com, told The Guardian. "It's frustrating as we thought that with Mose this kind of thing wouldn't happen any more, but instead we're back to square one. It's the same old problem."</p><p>The higher than expected tide was also driven inward by stronger winds than predicted, according to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-news-floods-tides-92b6ec9b969a86acd13eb1764de2f25f" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>.</p><p>"Unfortunately, the weather is freer than us. It does what it wants," Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro told The Associated Press.</p>
<p>In addition to flooding the church, the water also inundated some shops and businesses. The damage is not yet known, according to The Guardian. However, the flood is likely to put a further strain on shop or restaurant owners already suffering from a lack of tourism due to the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_self">coronavirus</a> pandemic, The Associated Press pointed out.</p><p>The MOSE flood barrier was first designed in 1984 and was supposed to be installed by 2011, according to The Guardian. However, it was beset by corruption and delays. It was originally supposed to cost two billion euros, but the final price tag was seven billion, according to AFP.</p><p>The long-awaited barrier <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/venice-flood-barrier-2648098487.html" target="_self">successfully</a> protected Venice from an approximately four-foot high tide in October of this year. Its final installation came about a year after Venice <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/venice-flooding-2641326129.html" target="_self">experienced</a> its worst high tide in more than 50 years during November 2019, an event that Brugnaro blamed on climate change. There were only 10 "exceptional tides" in Venice between 1923 and 2000, but that number rose to 14 between 2001 and 2019, according to <a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/12052020/coronavirus-venice-canals-clear-climate-change-flood/" target="_blank">InsideClimate News</a>. The November 2019 flood covered more than 85 percent of the city and killed two people.</p><p>MOSE consists of 78 barriers and is designed to protect the city from up to 10 feet of flooding, according to The Associated Press.</p><p>Brugano emphasized that the project is still being tested, and that lessons from Tuesday's failures will be taken into account. He said that protocols would be developed to activate the system more quickly. For now, the city is working to activate the barrier to protect itself from a high tide of 1.2 meters predicted for Wednesday.</p><p>However, some say the barrier can only ever be a short-term fix for the problem of climate change. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sea-level-rise" target="_self">Sea level rise</a> is projected to swallow Venice by 2100 if nothing is done to lower greenhouse gas emissions, InsideClimate News reported.</p><p>University of Padua Maritime Construction professor Piero Ruol pointed out that even best-case-scenario projections for sea level rise would require the barriers to be shut more than six months a year, which would devastate the ecosystem of Venice's lagoon.</p><p>"Therefore, the MOSE can not be considered a solution that 'lasts forever' for protecting Venice from flooding," he told InsideClimate News, "and it is time to think of new solutions for solving this delicate conundrum, in the face of climate change."</p>
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EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
Record flood water levels in Venice hit again on Sunday making this the worst week of flooding in the city in over 50 years.
<p>Venice's tide office recorded the peak tide of 1.5 meters above sea level just after 1 p.m. local time UTC.</p><p>The new peak left 70 percent of the <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/after-the-floods-could-venice-lose-its-world-heritage-status/a-51271328" target="_blank">UNESCO World Heritage city</a> submerged on Sunday.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/venice-third-exceptional-flood-makes-week-worst-on-record/a-51286635?maca=en-VAM_volltext_ecowatch-28485-html-copypaste" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a>.</em><br/></p>
<p>Since records began in 1872, that level has never been reached even twice in one year. There is no other week on record where waters have reached the 1.5-meter mark three times in one week.</p><p>Usually, tides of 80-90 centimeters are considered high.</p><p><a href="https://www.dw.com/en/venice-fresh-floods-force-closure-of-st-marks-square/a-51264902" target="_blank">St. Mark's Square</a> — the lowest point in the city and home of the iconic St. Mark's Basilica — <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/venice-floods-st-marks-square-reopens-but-city-on-red-alert/a-51278731" target="_blank">was submerged again</a> and closed to tourists.</p><p>Museums and stores in hardest-hit areas also remained closed.</p><p>Hundreds of volunteers mobilized to help Venice's inhabitants and to protect iconic buildings in the city, which is world-famous for its canals, historic architecture and art.</p>
<p>Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who has also been appointed special commissioner to deal with the emergency, pleaded with citizens not to give up hope, saying, "Venetians only get on their knees to pray."<br></p><p>Earlier in the week the city declared a state of emergency and ministers pledged €20 million ($22 million) to address the immediate damage.</p><p>Other parts of Italy also experienced severe weather during the weekend, with the river Arno in Pisa threatening to burst it banks.</p>
Why has Venice flooded?
<p>Experts say that Venice is both sinking into the mud it was built on and is at threat from rising sea levels due to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">climate change</a>.</p><p>The flooding has renewed calls for the Mose flood barrier project for the city.</p>From Your Site Articles
- 70% of Venice Flooded by Highest Tide in at Least a Decade ... ›
- Veneto Council Flooded Two Minutes After Rejecting Climate Action ... ›
- Venice Flood Barrier Passes First Major Test - EcoWatch ›
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For decades, Burt's Bees has been one of the leading names in cosmetic and skincare products developed with sustainability in mind. Not only do they create high-quality products from natural ingredients, but they're attentive to the ways in which their production, packaging, and distribution methods impact the world around them. For those who value environmental stewardship and wise corporate citizenship, Burt's Bees is iconic.
Perhaps it was only a matter of time before the company expanded its all-natural skincare and cosmetic line to include products that harness the potent, holistic effects of CBD. In this post, we'll offer a quick guide to the products included in the new Burt's Bees CBD line, as well as some further comments about the company as a whole.
<h2>Why CBD?</h2><p>First, it may be worth asking why all of this matters. What's the big deal about CBD, anyway?</p><p>CBD is short for cannabidiol, one of the most prevalent, active ingredients in the cannabis plant (marijuana). CBD has been linked with a <a data-linked-post="2648638251" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/organic-cbd-oil-2648638251.html" target="_blank">number of positive, holistic health effects</a>; in fact, it's been FDA-approved as a treatment for <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5767492/" target="_blank">epilepsy and seizures</a>, while much anecdotal evidence positions it as an <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/" target="_blank">anti-inflammatory agent</a>.</p><p>Crucially, legally-available CBD products have little or no <em>THC</em>, which is the psychoactive ingredient in the marijuana plant; in other words, you can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of CBD without any risk of getting high.</p><h2>The Burt's Bees Story</h2><p>With that said, let's get back to Burt's Bees.</p><p>The company was founded in the early 1980s by Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby, veterans of the art community who sought refuge and contemplation in the prairies of Maine. Eventually, their interests led them to beekeeping, and into developing lip and skincare products developed from homegrown beeswax.</p><p>From the very beginning, their mission was to develop products that drew from the power of nature, while also taking seriously their responsibility to preserve, protect, and respect nature.</p><p><br/></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-proxy-image">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Burt%27s_Bees_Products%2C_Sep_2012.JPG" target="_blank"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vbWVkaWEucmJsLm1zL2ltYWdlP3U9JTJGd2lraXBlZGlhJTJGY29tbW9ucyUyRjAlMkYwZSUyRkJ1cnQlMjUyN3NfQmVlc19Qcm9kdWN0cyUyQ19TZXBfMjAxMi5KUEcmaG89aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ1cGxvYWQud2lraW1lZGlhLm9yZyZzPTYzNCZoPWM1ZTJmZTNjZWU3YTQzYmQwN2JiMzA5NTQzODJmZDE5ZTI4NTVmODFjZWExY2IwZjEwNTMyM2VmZmI3NzVhMTQmc2l6ZT05ODB4JmM9MjMzMjg4MjMwMCIsImV4cGlyZXNfYXQiOjE2MzQ2MDIzNTB9.-xDHPO21EBocR2q-qehbyHJl9kdn7xtuoQ4yGq9AWig/img.jpg" id="5f2e7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="656954a7f6b3ca9326350734a85dea76" /></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">File:Burt's Bees Products, Sep 2012.JPG - Wikipedia</small>
</p><h3>Sustainability at Burt's Bees<br/></h3><p>There are a number of ways in which Burt's Bees continues to live out its commitment to sustainability to this day.</p><h3>All Ingredients Come from Nature</h3><p>The company strives for 100 percent natural ingredients in all of their products, and generally comes pretty close. (Their skincare products are all 95 percent natural, at a bare minimum.) Everything they make is absent <a data-linked-post="2628289611" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/chemicals-in-cosmetics-damage-childrens-health-2628289611.html" target="_blank">parabens</a> and other concerning, artificial chemicals.</p><h3>No Products are Tested on Animals</h3><p>Burt's Bees products are all "<a data-linked-post="1881939362" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/13-eco-labels-to-look-for-when-shopping-1881939362.html" target="_blank">Leaping Bunny Certified</a>." What this means is that they never test their products on animals, or ask any third parties to conduct animal testing on their behalf.</p><h3>Eco-Friendly Sourcing</h3><p>The company also demonstrates a responsible approach to sourcing, visiting all their ingredient harvesting sites to ensure a commitment to stewardship and sustainability.</p><h3>Environmentally Friendly Packaging</h3><p>All Burt's Bees products are completely recyclable. They avoid over-packaging, and their plastics are made up largely of recycled materials. </p><p>The bottom line: Burt's Bees is a company with serious eco-credentials… and that makes them a logical choice for expansion into the world of natural, sustainably sourced CBD.</p><h2>About Burt's Bees CBD Products</h2><p>Currently, Burt's Bees offers five products that are made with <a data-linked-post="2649092883" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/full-spectrum-cbd-oil-2649092883.html" target="_blank">full spectrum CBD</a>. What this means is that their CBD includes trace elements of all parts of the plant, including other <a data-linked-post="2649030477" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/cannabis-terpenes-2649030477.html" target="_blank">cannabinoids and terpenes</a>. According to many CBD experts, this provides a more potent and effective product overall. </p><p>All of the company's CBD ingredients are sourced from hemp that's grown and harvested in Colorado, using the most sustainable, organic agricultural practices. </p><p>Another important note about Burt's Bees CBD products: All of them are rigorously third-party tested. Independent lab results are key whenever you buy CBD, because it allows you to get a good sense of the purity, quality, and potency of what you're buying. You can get batch-specific test results for any Burt's Bees product simply by visiting their website.</p><h2>So, what about the specific products in the Burt's Bees CBD line?</h2>
<h2>Sustainably Sourced CBD Products</h2><p>It's important to emphasize that <em>all </em>of these products are made with transparently sourced CBD ingredients, as well as the company's usual high standards of eco-friendly packaging. In other words, this is a great opportunity to enjoy some of the benefits of CBD skincare, with all the sustainability and sound environmental stewardship that Burt's Bees is known for.</p><p>We're happy to recommend these products as good entry points into CBD skincare. Always remember, when shopping for CBD products, look for third party test results and transparency about sourcing information, all of which Burt's Bees makes readily available.</p><p><em><strong>Josh Hurst</strong> </em><em>is a journalist, critic, and essayist. He lives in Knoxville, TN, with his wife and three sons. His writing on natural health, nutrition, and supplements has appeared in Health, Shape, and Remedy Review.</em></p>
CBD Hand and Foot Cream
<a href="https://cbdburtsbees.pxf.io/vo9nv" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU0MzM0OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NDQwMzIwMX0.yut4GH7F5tlKS3t1NdEhuUEaqvr2XMWFGV0mdb4Lzds/img.jpg?width=980" id="cfaa6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2d6798afd5e1082f405a7c2d34d3ef6e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /></a><p>Meanwhile, Burt's Bees also offers a cream that's perfectly soothing for your calloused feet or hard-working hands. It's made not only with 200mg of CBD, but also with a host of other natural ingredients designed to moisturize and replenish. You can get the CBD hand and foot cream for just $20. We especially recommend this product for anyone who has been thinking about trying CBD for psoriasis. </p>
$20
CBD Facial Oil
<a href="https://cbdburtsbees.pxf.io/NnvKV" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU0MzM0Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjg3NjAxNn0.5A-FpEfSoN7ltOiR8GeHZH_pHF2X3QiWJOCCVqrwlO8/img.jpg?width=980" id="70913" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="471a3ec6fee14af68b0960b05c79d581" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /></a><p>Looking for a natural, soothing way to revitalize your skin? Burt's Bees' facial oil combines the replenishing powers of CBD with other proven ingredients from the natural world, including jojoba, rosehip, and evening primrose oils. This face oil is made with 100mg of CBD.</p>
$35
CBD Lip Oil
<a href="https://cbdburtsbees.pxf.io/O6vRW" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU0MzM0OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTkxNTExOH0.8Z07egVJkChyX3IOJL4Oljf28JZbt9E__uxizfFMHdQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="b5e05" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d5ab7e24b0357917309d942794235f7a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /></a><p>Burt's Bees is famous for their lip balms, so it's no surprise that they offer a CBD-infused variant. Made with 10mg of CBD, this balm has a wonderfully cooling effect on the lips. The addition of shea butter helps increase its moisturizing effect. </p>
$10
CBD Lip Treatment
<a href="https://cbdburtsbees.pxf.io/n9Z1A" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU0MzM1MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNjI3NzYyNn0.v5b0PL5yDE_TmcZgkCe4O5Bia3hm3e7kysu6tIxQqGI/img.jpg?width=980" id="f8767" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2cb9ac0fb9572ce3d54dffeda4f31a64" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /></a><p>An additional option for those seeking CBD-powered lip care. This one is meant to be used while you sleep, allowing it plenty of time to revitalize and restore badly chapped lips. Made with 15mg CBD, you can get the Burt's Bees lip treatment online now.</p>
$14
CBD Body Cream
<a href="https://cbdburtsbees.pxf.io/KoveN" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU0MzM1MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNTI2NTQyOX0.Q7UG8UhBwqPk45uu4iZP5HzSDVVDuMm0g2DY9UBRSKE/img.jpg?width=980" id="e2a7c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b9b0b1c5600a13e48cca46646edd195e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /></a><p>Last but not least, check out the <a href="https://cbd.burtsbees.com/products/cbd-body-cream" target="_blank">Burt's Bees CBD Body Cream</a>, made with 250mg CBD plus rich, botanical scents. It's designed to leave your skin soft and fully moisturized for a full 24 hours, and you can get it for just $30.</p>
$30
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Veneto Council Flooded Two Minutes After Rejecting Climate Action, Councilor Says
15 November 2019
Climate
A flooded St. Mark's square (Piazza San Marco) during a new exceptional high tide on Nov. 15 in Venice, Italy. Simone Padovani / Awakening / Getty Images
The historic "acqua alta" that swamped Venice Tuesday night also flooded the Veneto regional council for the first time, just moments after it had apparently rejected measures to address the climate crisis.
<p>The council chamber, which is located on Venice's Grand Canal in the Ferro Fini Palace, began to flood around 10 p.m. Tuesday, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/14/europe/veneto-council-climate-change-floods-trnd-intl-scli/index.html" target="_blank">CNN reported</a>. At the time, the councilors were discussing the 2020 budget for the northeastern Italian region of Veneto, of which Venice is the capital.</p><p>"Ironically, the chamber was flooded two minutes after the majority League, Brothers of Italy, and Forza Italia parties rejected our amendments to tackle climate change," Democratic Party councilor and environment committee deputy chairman Andrea Zanoni wrote in a Facebook post reported by CNN.</p><p>The League and Brothers of Italy are far-right parties, and Forza Italia is a center-right party, <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/venice-council-chambers-flood-moments-after-rejecting-climate-change-amendments_us_5dcddcb1e4b01f982efef03b?ri18n=true&guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAC1nDeCLQrkax5gONQhGwLiQUL8R9ocQ27ZLKee3EJwkhH6FL1768LjQBqpAht4P4fHMNj1iMwBlQtPG5u5gpA1geqYETelTmswKx94ylHpo2O2FU8HapFj8kZvKyn97wHPVUUQfk1NTJJwUZ3M4JKPv8mQUtAUr1YU1I7CV_ojH" target="_blank">HuffPost explained</a>.</p>
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8d12ae0b4547f47c04ca46bce2ec00e1"><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/andreazanonix/posts/10159116946155299"></div></div>
<p>The rejected amendments included plans to fund <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/" target="_self">renewable energy</a>, replace diesel buses with cleaner and more efficient vehicles, replace high-polluting stoves and tackle <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-pollution" target="_self">plastic pollution</a>, Zanoni said.</p><p>Zanoni further said that Veneto regional president and League member Luca Zaia presented a budget "with no concrete actions to combat climate change," CNN reported.</p><p>Zanoni joined Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro in blaming climate change for Venice's massive <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/flooding" target="_self">flooding</a> Tuesday, according to HuffPost, though he acknowledged it was one of many factors responsible. The city saw its highest tide in more than 50 years when water levels peaked at more than six feet.</p>
<div id="eaca7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="G1BCBW1576661137"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1195077075046215690" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">There are no words to express all this #VeniceFloods #ClimateEmergency https://t.co/Kufh6NhPqm</div> — Giovanni Antonelli (@Giovanni Antonelli)<a href="https://twitter.com/G_Antonelli_/statuses/1195077075046215690">1573763552.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>"If the voters of Veneto continue to close their eyes, Zaia's League will bring us all underwater," Zanoni said, according to HuffPost.</p><p>Regional council spokesman Alessandro Ovizach confirmed to CNN that the flooding occurred during the 2020 budget discussion, but did not specify which budget items were being addressed at the time.</p><p>But council president and League member Roberto Ciambetti disputed Zanoni's depiction of the council's actions on climate.</p><p>"Beyond propaganda and deceptive reading, we are voting (for) a regional budget that spent €965 million over the past three years in the fight against air pollution, smog, which is a determining factor in climate change," he said in a statement to CNN. "To say that we do nothing is a lie."</p><p>Ciambetti did acknowledge the flooding, and posted videos of it on his Facebook page.</p><p>"Never had such a situation occurred here (at the Council)," he told local paper Giornale di Vicenza, according to CNN.</p>
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="50b119a7f2dca31f2a00613b157d2b01"><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/roberto.ciambetti/posts/10218056409594647"></div></div>
<p>The Italian government declared a state of emergency Thursday to help Venice recover, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/11/14/779479948/following-days-of-destructive-floods-italy-declares-a-state-of-emergency-in-veni?t=1573812918944" target="_blank">NPR reported</a>.</p><p>The flooding has also continued after Tuesday, though at lower levels. On Thursday, the high water mark came to three feet, eight inches, and rain is expected to bring more flooding to the city.</p><p>"It hurts to see the city so damaged, its artistic heritage compromised, its commercial activities on its knees," Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte <a href="https://www.facebook.com/383458618802776/posts/761739814307986" target="_blank">said</a>, according to NPR.<br></p><p>Flooding damaged almost a third of the city's raised walkways, destroyed hundreds of books in the Acqua Alta Library and filled the crypt of St. Mark's Basilica, causing major damage. The Teatro La Fenice opera house was also damaged, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/13/an-apocalypse-happened-venice-counts-cost-of-devastating-floods" target="_blank">The Guardian reported</a>.</p>
<div id="89833" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0OZEUO1576661137"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1194891139746320389" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">#AquaAltaVenezia Ecco la situazione marciana dopo l'eccezionale marea del 12 novembre scorso. Venticinque cm d'acqu… https://t.co/AVvQJzBDoQ</div> — Biblioteca Marciana (@Biblioteca Marciana)<a href="https://twitter.com/bibliomarciana/statuses/1194891139746320389">1573719222.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>"An apocalypse happened," Antonella Rossi, who owns a handmade jewelry store on St. Mark's Square, told The Guardian. "We haven't seen anything like this in 55 years. The water has destroyed everything, and I will have to redo so much – work that took a lifetime was wrecked in seconds."</p><p><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50416306" target="_blank">BBC News</a> meteorologist Nikki Berry explained how the climate crisis contributed to the historic flooding. While it is difficult to attribute any one <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/extreme-weather" target="_self">extreme weather</a> event to climate change, five of Venice's 10 highest tides took place in the last 20 years. Since Venice is sinking, it is especially susceptible to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sea-level-rise" target="_self">sea level rise</a>.</p><p>The storm surge that contributed to the flooding also shows the fingerprints of climate change, Berry explained:</p><blockquote>The weather patterns that have caused the Adriatic storm surge have been driven by a strong meridional (waving) jet stream across the northern hemisphere and this has fed a conveyor belt of low pressure systems into the central Mediterranean.<br><br>One of the possible effects of a changing climate is that the jet stream will be more frequently meridional and blocked weather patterns such as these will also become more frequent. If this happens, there is a greater likelihood that these events will combine with astronomical spring tides and hence increase the chance of flooding in Venice.</blockquote><p>Conte said the government would work to "accelerate" construction on the long-delayed Mose project, designed to protect Venice from flooding using a series of barriers, according to BBC News.</p>
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Trending
Tourists wade through a flooded Piazza San Marco in Venice Monday. MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP / Getty Images
The worst flooding in at least a decade swamped Venice Monday as an exceptionally high tide covered around 70 percent of the iconic island city, the Huffington Post reported.
Venice is the Mediterranean World Heritage Site currently most at risk from flooding due to sea level rise, according to a recent study, and the city even has elevated sidewalks ready in case of high tides, but Monday's waters rose higher than the emergency sidewalks.
<p>The tide surpassed 5 feet, 3 inches, making it the highest recorded since 2008 and potentially the highest recorded since 1979, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/30/europe/venice-flooding-intl/index.html" target="_blank">CNN reported</a>.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="4c30b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="LK0I411576663322"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="402839790863015936" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Wading through Piazza San Marco #veniceflooding @RichardKerbaj http://t.co/84nF5YhoxO</div> — Katie Gibbons (@Katie Gibbons)<a href="https://twitter.com/katie_gibbons1/statuses/402839790863015936">1384879465.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>The high water didn't stop tourists from wading around famous landmarks like Piazza San Marco as business owners worked to keep water from entering their shops. Videos posted to social media showed waiters serving pizza in rubber boots, waves crashing against historic buildings and a jellyfish swimming up a cobblestone street.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="0cbcc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="IJZNJ81576663322"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1057004142735097857" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">En ce moment ..
#Venise #Venice
#Météo #Weather https://t.co/UK0wzCbY4q</div> — Un Macaroni Ⓜ️ (@Un Macaroni Ⓜ️)<a href="https://twitter.com/UnMacaroni/statuses/1057004142735097857">1540844400.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="45d99" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="Q9H48M1576663322"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1057018356186918914" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">En ce moment ..
#Venise #Venice
#Météo #Weather
#MeToo iWantPizza 🐙🍕 https://t.co/d4DwkE71Uk</div> — Un Macaroni Ⓜ️ (@Un Macaroni Ⓜ️)<a href="https://twitter.com/UnMacaroni/statuses/1057018356186918914">1540847789.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>Runners in the <a href="https://www.huaweivenicemarathon.it/en/venicemarathon/news-vm-eng/read/989-cs-winners-vm" target="_blank">Venice Marathon</a> competed Sunday despite 'the worst conditions ever for the event."<br></p><p>The flooding in Venice is immediately caused by a low-pressure system that has also brought flooding, wind and rain to other parts of northern Italy. At least six people have died, and popular Roman tourist sites like the Colosseum and Roman Forum were closed, the Huffington Post reported.</p><p>Venice, however, is increasingly used to flooding because of a combination of incoming silt, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-change" target="_self">climate change</a> and <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/methane" target="_blank">methane</a> gas drilling in the sea nearby that undermines its islands, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/venice-experiencing-worst-flooding-2012/story?id=58828272&cid=social_twitter_abcn" target="_blank">ABC News reported</a>. When tide levels lower to 110 centimeters (approximately 3.6 feet) on Tuesday, they will be at levels Venice sees about four times a year, CNN said.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="60360" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="21GLI01576663322"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1057007463000612866" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Relaxed dressing amidst Biblical flooding levels in Venice #veniceflooding https://t.co/UlnbOsVAyO</div> — Running Past (@Running Past)<a href="https://twitter.com/running_past/statuses/1057007463000612866">1540845192.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>Venice has been working on an ambitious series of flood barriers since 2003 dubbed "Project Moses." The project features retractable gates that would block the entrance to the city's lagoon when tides are high, but corruption scandals and high costs have beset the operation, which should be completed in 2022 and has already cost around $6.5 billion, the Huffington Post reported.<br></p><p>But an article published in <a href="https://e360.yale.edu/features/rising-waters-can-a-massive-sea-barrier-save-venice-from-drowning" target="_blank">YaleEnvironment360</a> last year pointed out that the barrier, which was first conceived after a record-breaking 1966 flood, was only designed to withstand 1 foot of sea level rise, and some scientists think we could see 2 feet by 2050. </p><p>"After that, the sea will come in from other places to the north and the south. There is nothing we can do to stop it," project spokesperson Monica Ambrosini said.</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="134e8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="LM2U2N1576663322"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1009181566713712641" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Sea Level Rise Could Put 2.4 MIllion U.S. Coastal Homes at Risk https://t.co/WjKrpxfnoA @OneWorld_News @ClimateDesk</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/1009181566713712641">1529442609.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Lorenzo Quinn
A vital message has risen up from the Grand Canal in Venice. Two, 5,000 pound hands appear to be gripping the walls of the historic Ca' Sagredo Hotel echoing the warning of experts that say "The Floating City" could sink in as little as 100 years.
<p>Internationally renowned Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn <a href="https://www.halcyongallery.com/exhibitions/lorenzo-quinn-at-the-venice-biennale" target="_blank">unveiled</a> his new sculpture, <em>Support</em>, to serve as a call to "protect our planet" and "our national heritage sites." </p><p>"Venice is a floating art city that has inspired cultures for centuries, but to continue to do so it needs the support of our generation and future ones, because it is threatened by <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/">climate change</a> and time decay," Quinn said.<br></p><p>Experts say Venice and much of Italy's Adriatic coastline is at risk of disappearing from <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sea-level-rise">sea level rise</a>. According to scientists from Italy and France, the Mediterranean will rise by up to five feet (140cm) before 2100, putting Venice and many other areas at risk.</p><p>The sculpture is in the shape of two childlike hands, modeled after his son's hands. Quinn hopes his installation will "speak to the people in a clear, simple and direct way through the innocent hands of a child" and send a powerful message that "united we can make a stand to curb climate change."</p><p>Quinn explained that he used hands to "symbolize tools that can both destroy the world, but also have the capacity to save it." The hands appear to be holding up the building, which draws attention to the fragile nature of the infrastructure and the impact climate change can have on the city.</p><p><em>Support</em> was unveiled on May 13 and will be on view until Nov. 26.</p><div id="b8d10" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="VVWYQ41495044324"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BUHT8oPFeSu/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
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word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Instagram post by Lorenzo Quinn • May 15, 2017 at 1:13pm UTC</a></p>
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