DRAFT PROGRAMME Patronage Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Environment and Territory and Sea, Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, Veneto Region, Province of Venice
With the financial support of the Italian Government
In collaboration with RAI Sede Regionale per Il Veneto, National Geographic Society, and Venice International University
Scientific Programme
The International Conference, “The Future of Venice and its Lagoon in the Context of Global Change”, will pave the way for discussions and debates related to the scientific, environmental, cultural and socio-economic challenges faced by Venice and its Lagoon World Heritage site. The Conference will focus on evaluating the current situation of Venice and its Lagoon and contribute to a shared vision for its future.
Such a vision is intended to help guide sound decision-making and further enable sustainable management of coastal and lagoon urban systems worldwide facing global changes. The Conference conclusions will inspire other World Heritage sites and cities, in particular those in the South-East European and the Mediterranean regions, to use the experiences of Venice as a model for facing their own challenges streaming from global change phenomena.
UNESCO acts as neutral broker and presents a platform for the debate regarding the future of Venice. Venice and the Italian Government have asked UNESCO to support them defining the vision, strategy and management plan for Venice and its Lagoon and to prepare a follow-up report to the one already elaborated in 1969 after the devastating acqua alta in 1966.
This Conference concludes a series of events organized on this topic in cooperation with Venetian authorities and institutions, including a series of stakeholder workshops developing the basis for the management plan of the heritage site and 4 preparatory workshops that reflect the main themes of discussion for the conference:
. From Global to Regional: Local Sea Level Rise Scenarios - Focus on the Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea (22-23 November 2010) . The Ecological Implications of Climate Change on the Venice Lagoon (26-27 May 2011) . Culture and Development: from Restoration to Revitalization? (20-21 June 2011) . Impact of Global Change to Socioeconomic Development (4-5 October 2011)
Objectives of the Conference
The urban ecosystem of Venice and its Lagoon is among the most studied urban and environmental systems in the world. However, many experts recognize that there is still a need to make the available knowledge more accessible to stakeholders and to the public in general, as well as to be more easily applied in the decision-making processes.
Acting as neutral broker and facilitator, UNESCO Venice Office has mobilized expertise in the interdisciplinary fields of science and culture. The Conference’s main aims are:
. Raising awareness on the cultural, socio-economic and environmental impacts of global change on Venice and its Lagoon and other urban eco-systems; . Providing local authorities with sound scientific knowledge, information and tools for the sustainable management of Venice and its Lagoon; . Contributing to the elaboration of holistic and interdisciplinary approaches for the development of urban eco-systems affected by global change phenomena; . Creating better visibility of Venice and its Lagoon, as well as other World Heritages sites and Biosphere Reserves, as possible models for sustainable development worldwide; and, . Identifying prospective scenarios for the future(s) of Venice and recommendations for its cultural, social and economic development.
Scientific Board
Antonio ARMELLINI Councilor for International Affairs, Municipality of Venice
J. Christophe BOUVIER Director and Regional Representative for Europe, UNEP -United Nations Environment Programme
Carlo CARRARO Rector, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice
Paolo CESCON President, CORILA - Research Lagoon Consortium, Venice
Renata CODELLO Superintendent for Architectural Heritage and Landscape of Venice and Lagoon
Ignazio MUSU President, VIU TEN Center - Venice International University Thematic Environmental Networks Center; Professor of Economics and Environmental Economics, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice
Antonio PARUZZOLO Councilor for Productive Activities, Municipality of Venice
Walter SANTAGATA Professor of Cultural Economy, Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Turin
Tom SPENCER Reader in Coastal Ecology and Geomorphology, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge
Fabio TRINCARDI Director, ISMAR-CNR - Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Council
Jan VAN DER BORG Associated Professor of Economics of Tourism, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice
Conference Organizers
The International Conference, The Future of Venice and its Lagoon in the Context of Global Change, is organized by UNESCO Venice Office in cooperation with the Municipality of Venice, and with the further support of Venice International University, COSES and Ca’ Foscari University. Preliminary Programme
DAY 1 – SUNDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2011
Sala delle Colonne, Palazzo Ca’ Giustinian
(Open to the public)
09:00 – 10:00 Registration of participants
10:00 – 11:00 WELCOMING ADDRESSES
Irina BOKOVA UNESCO Director-General
Renato BRUNETTA Minister for Public Administration and Innovation, Italy Raffaele SPERANZON Councilor for Culture, Province of Venice Giovanni PUGLISI President, Italian National Commission for UNESCO Ilan CHET Deputy Secretary-General, Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean
Giorgio ORSONI Mayor of Venice
11:00 – 13:00 KEY NOTE PRESENTATIONS
Charles LANDRY Founder of Comedia, Urbanist and International Authority on Creativity and the Future of Cities Re-imagining Venice as a Global Role Model: Between Chaos and Continuity
Frédéric PIERRET Executive Director, UNWTO - UN World Tourism Organization Tourism and Culture: a Challenging Relationship
Robert FRANCE Associated Professor of Watershed Management, NSAC/Dalhousie University, Author of “Veniceland Atlantis” Veniceland Atlantis: A Bleak Future or a Regenerative Landscape Design Success Story?
Development Process of the Management Plan for the World Heritage Site of Venice and its Lagoon Giorgio DE VETTOR - Katia BASILI Municipality of Venice
13:00 14:00 Lunch break (buffet lunch is foreseen for registered participants)
14:00 16:00 INTERNATIONAL PANEL DISCUSSION: CHALLENGES OF GLOBAL CHANGES IN A LOCAL CONTEXT
Chair Francesco BANDARIN UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture
International Panel Remy PRUD’HOMME Professor Emeritus of Urban Economics, Université Paris XII Possible Solutions for the Economic Challenges of Venice
Eric WOLANSKI Professor, Australian Institute for Marine Sciences and James Cook University Recovering Lagoon Ecosystems from the Impacts of Climate Change
Bénédicte SELFSLAGH Secretary General, ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites Opportunities and Limitations for the Revitalization of World Heritage sites
Michael DONOVAN Urban Specialist and Lead Author of the OECD Metropolitan Review of Venice Key Findings from the OECD Metropolitan Review of Venice
Jonathan TOURTELLOT Geotourism Editor, National Geographic Traveler The Tourism Challenge
18:00 – 20:00 Teatro La Fenice
UNESCO CONCERT: MUSIC TO SOOTHE A SAVAGE PLANET
Gigliola Cinquetti Master of Ceremony Alberto Toso Fei Periodic literary interlude with images
Performance of a selection of Venetian music organized by Milton Masciadri, UNESCO Artist for Peace and Concert Artistic Director
For ticket information, please visit http://www.unesco.org/venice/musictosootheasavageplanet/
A cocktail will follow (by invitation only)
DAY 2 – MONDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2011
Aula Magna, Venice International University San Servolo Island
(Registration required)
09:00 – 10:00 KEY NOTE PRESENTATIONS TO THE PARALLEL SESSIONS
Chair Engelbert RUOSS Director, UNESCO Venice Office
Key Note Speakers Pier VELLINGA Professor in Climate Change, Centre for Water and Climate, Wageningen University Climate Change and Sea Level Rise, Implications for Venice and its Lagoon Adriana VIGNERI Professor of Public Law and Former Undersecretary of Home Affairs The Governance of a Complex Area: Venice and its Lagoon Gail Dexter LORD Co-President, Lord Cultural Resources Enabling the Revitalization of Historic Cities
10:00 – 11:00 RESULTS OF UNESCO PREPARATORY WORKSHOPS AND THETIS CONFERENCE
Georg UMGIESSER Senior Scientist, ISMAR-CNR - Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Council, Venice (Sea Level Rise Scenarios) DAVIDE TAGLIAPIETRA Researcher, ISMAR-CNR (Lagoon Ecosystem) Jan VAN DER BORG Professor of Economics of Tourism, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice (Culture and Development) Bruno BERNARDI President, COSES - Consortium for Research and Educational Training, Venice (Socio-Economic Development)
THETIS Venice Conference - Improving the Capacity to Assess and to Adapt to Climate Change in Urban Coastal Regions. (12-15 September 2011)
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 18:00 THREE PARALLEL SESSIONS
Abstracts of submitted papers are available at: www.unesco.org/venice/thefutureofvenice (Lunch Break 13:00-14:00, Coffee Break 16:00-16.30)
SESSION 1: Responses of the urban ecosystem to the challenges of climate change
Chair Tom SPENCER Reader in Coastal Ecology and Geomorphology, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge Introductory Overview of Recent Environmental Research
Rapporteurs Philippe PYPAERT Programme Specialist, UNESCO Venice Office Georg UMGIESSER Senior Scientist, ISMAR -CNR Venice Ivan VALIELA Senior Research Scientist, The Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, USA
A. Chronic and acute sea level changes in the Northern Adriatic Sea and Venice Lagoon
Stefan RAHMSTORF Senior Scientist, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Global Sea-level Rise: Past and Future
Marco CORDELLA, Franco CROSATO ISPRA - Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Venice 2010, A Memorable Year: The Exceptional Growth of the Mean Sea Level Rise in Venice and the Northern Adriatic Sea (submitted paper)
Georg UMGIESSER (1), L. ZAMPATO (2), M. BAJO (1) and P. CANESTRELLI (2) (1) ISMAR-CNR - Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Council, Venice (2) ICPSM - Tidal Forecasting and Early Warning Centre, Venice Municipality Storm Surge Modelling in Venice: Two Years of Operational Results (submitted paper)
B. Impact of Climate Change on the lagoon ecosystem and hydrodynamics
Ivan VALIELA Senior Research Scientist, The Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, USA Perspectives on Ecology and Management of Venice Lagoon and its Watershed: Challenges by Long-term Changes in Land-sea Couplings and Climate
Robert MCINNES, Scientific and Technical Review Panel Expert, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, RM Wetlands & Environment Ltd Urbanisation, Wetlands and the Ramsar Convention
Silvia TORRESAN (1,2), Antonio MARCOMINI (2,3), Andrea CRITTO (2,3), Jonathan (1,2) (1,2) (2) (4) RIZZI , Alex ZABEO , Valentina GALLINA and Silvio GIOVE (1) CVR - Venice Research Consortium (2) CMCC - Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change, Impacts on Soil and Coast Division c/o Venice Research Consortium (3) Department of Environmental Sciences, University Ca’ Foscari, Venice (4) Department of Applied Mathematics, University Ca’ Foscari, Venice Assessing the Impacts of Global Climate Change on Coastal and Lagoon Systems: the Case Study of the North Adriatic Sea (submitted paper)
Luigi D’ALPAOS Professor, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, University of Padua Erosion Processes in the Venice Lagoon and Possible Countermeasures
C. Consequences of climate change: impacts and the ecosystem response for urban development
Giampietro MAJERLE Vice-President, Venice Water Authority How to Manage Human Impact on the Lagoon Ecosystem
Stefania MUNARETTO IVM - Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University Amsterdam and Judith E. M. KLOSTERMANN Alterra - Wageningen University A Comparative Case Study of the Venice Lagoon and the Dutch Wadden Sea (submitted paper)
D. Panel discussion
Moderator Günter KŐCK Project Leader, Austrian Academy of Sciences and UNESCO Venice Office Scientific Council Member
SESSION 2: Impact of global change on socio-economic development
Chair Michael DONOVAN Urban Specialist and Lead Author of the OECD Metropolitan Review of Venice
Rapporteurs Mario SCALET Head of Science Unit, UNESCO Venice Office Bruno BERNARDI President, COSES - Consortium for Research and Educational Training, Venice
A. Transformation process to a future green city
Shpresa HALIMI Research Assistant Professor, Institute for Sustainable Solutions, Portland State University Manage Global Change Trends
Ignazio MUSU Professor of Economics and Environmental Economics, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice Economic Paradigms and Challenges for Urban Sustainable Development: the Venice Case
Pier Carlo SANDEI Programme Officer, UNEP- United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office for Europe - Vienna Office Green Economy Opportunities for Venice and its Lagoon
Andrea RINALDO Professor, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, University of Padua Impact of the Lagoon Hydrology on the Lagoon Economy
B. Bottlenecks for economic growth of coastal cities
Tiedo VELLINGA Director, Environmental Monitoring Maasvlakte 2, Port of Rotterdam Authority Port of Rotterdam Development and Climate Change Adaptation
Francesco SBETTI Urbanist, INU - National Institute for Urban Planning and University of Ferrara Venice and its Development: Socio-economic Characteristics and Limitations
Dominic STANDISH University of Iowa, Consortium of Universities A Social Understanding of Venice’s Problems and Development (submitted paper)
Andrea RAZZINI Managing Director, VERITAS SpA, Venice Local Public Utilities and the city of Venice
C. Social and economic opportunities in Venice
Michele VIANELLO Director General, VEGA - Science & Technology Park, Venice VEGA 2030: Innovation Strategy changes Venice
Paolo MOTTA (CIVVIH - International Committee on Historic Towns and Villlages), Andrea SILIPO (Europrogetti & Finanza), Davide VIGANO’ (Arcotecnica Group) and Paolo VIOLA (ARTEVA), Returning to Venice’s Identity (submitted paper)
Nicola TOLLIN Research and Knowledge Transfer Fellow, Bradford Centre for Sustainable Environment, University of Bradford / Project Manager, UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at UPC, Giuseppe LONGHI Professor, IUAV Univeristy, Venice Marghera: Scenarios for a Green Development (submitted paper)
D. Panel discussion
Moderator Antonio PARUZZOLO Councilor for Productive Activities, Municipality of Venice
SESSION 3: Culture and Development: from Restoration to Revitalization?
Chair Anna SOMERS COCKS Chairman, The Venice in Peril Fund
Rapporteurs Anthony KRAUSE Head of Culture Unit, UNESCO Venice Office Fabio CARRERA Worcester Polytechnic Institute Jan VAN DER BORG Associated Professor of Economics of Tourism, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice
A. Quality of experience and sustainable tourism: The future enjoyment of Venetian cultural heritage
Jan VAN DER BORG Professor of Economics of Tourism, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice Tourism Management Systems and their Possible Applications in Venice
Sara LEVI SACERDOTTI Project Manager, SiTI – Istituto Superiore sui Sistemi Territoriali per l’Innovazione, Turin Visitor Management: Best Practices and New Possible Scenarios
Fabio CARRERA Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Emanuele DAL CARO TooTs srl, Angelo MARZOLLO University of Udine Embracing the Tourism Monoculture to Forge a New Economy in Venice (submitted paper)
Pier Luigi SACCO Dean, Faculty of Arts, Markets and Heritage, IULM University, Milan Venice as a Creative City: An Alternative Development Strategy
B. Cultural Heritage Management
Giorgio GIANIGHIAN Professor, IUAV University, Venice Water Levels and the Urban Fabric of Venice – Types and Causes of Degradation (submitted paper)
Gianmatteo CAPUTO Curia Patriarcale di Venezia Re-utilization of Church Property
Claudio MENICHELLI Chief Architect Coordinator, Superintendency for Architectural Heritage and Landscape of Venice and Lagoon Protection and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage and Landscape
C. Creating a vibrant cultural city
Isabella CAMPAGNOL Curator, Historical Collection and Projects, Rubelli S.p.A. Between Tradition and Innovation: the Rubelli Historical Collection and Archives as Source of Inspiration and creativity
Antonio RIGON General Manager, Polymnia Venezia, Auxiliary Agency of the Fondazione di Venezia Fondazione di Venezia: an Instrument for the Development of the Venetian Area
Massimo ONGARO Responsible for the organization of Dance, Music and Theatre, Biennale di Venezia The Future of Cultural Diversity in the Venice Biennale
D. Panel discussion
Moderator Marino FOLIN President Venezia 2000
DAY 3 – TUESDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2011
Aula Magna, Venice International University San Servolo Island
(Registration required)
09:30 – 11:00 SESSION ON LAGOON AND COASTAL CITIES WORLDWIDE
Chair Brian SMITH Secretary-General, Heritage Europe
Speakers Harjit Singh ANAND Co-President, EuroIndia Centre and Chairman Glownet Knowledge Services Effects of Tsunami on the Andaman Nicobar Islands & Coastal Orissa: Model for Environmental Sustainability
Abdalah MOKSSIT Director, National Meteorological Research Centre of Morocco, Direction de la Météorologie Nationale The Effects of Global Change Phenomena on Moroccan Coastal Cities
Siro POLO PADOLECCHIA DA PONTE President, Euro-China and Marco Polo Society The Creative City Experience in Hangzhou West Lake China
Karin WESTERINK Head Monuments Department, Office of Monuments and Archaeology, Municipality of Amsterdam Amsterdam Waterproof: Strategies for a Sustainable Heritage City
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:00 PANEL DISCUSSION ON UNESCO DESIGNATED SITES IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE AND THE MEDITERRANEAN
Moderator Ernst ITEN Ambassador, Former Swiss Delegate to UNESCO and UNESCO Venice Office Scientific Council Member
Branislav MIČUNOVIC Minister of Culture, Montenegro Suzana TURKU Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, Albania Andro VLAHUŠIĆ Mayor of the City of Dubrovnik, Croatia
Luigi DE FALCO Councilor of Urban Planning, Municipality of Naples, Italy Representative from the General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkey
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch Break
14:30 – 15:30 PRESENTATION OF REPORTS ON THE PARALLEL SESSIONS AND DISCUSSION Rapporteurs and Chairs present the reports of parallel sessions
15:30 – 17:00 PANEL DISCUSSION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF VENETIAN AUTHORITIES AND INSTITUTIONS
Moderator Antonio ARMELLINI Ambassador, Councilor for International Affairs, Municipality of Venice
17:00 – 17:30 CLOSING SESSION General conclusions of the conference
Giorgio ORSONI Mayor of Venice
17:30 PRESS CONFERENCE
Session 1 Responses of the urban ecosystem to the challenges of climate change
One of the key impacts of climate change identified for Venice and its Lagoon, as well as for the Adriatic Sea at large, is a dramatic increase of the sea level within the current century. In order to avoid potential disasters caused by “high water”, the Italian authorities have authorized the construction of an underwater barrier system, referred to as the MOSE Project. This system should help Venice and its Lagoon avoid extreme flooding and high waters as soon as 2014. The continued existence of Venice and the preservation of its cultural heritage are highly connected to the acqua alta flooding phenomenon; however, other natural hazards as well as this artificial barrier will result in considerable changes within the Lagoon eco-system, all of which are highly unpredictable. Furthermore, the impact of the industrial and agricultural activities, as well as hydrological changes in the surrounding area increases the uncertainty of the future quality of the Lagoon’s ecosystem. A better understanding of the vulnerability of Lagoon, based on the climate change scenarios at local level as well as the ecosystem response to global change mechanisms, could help to better define the limits and opportunities of the development of Venice and of the proposed plan for a Regional City. The knowledge of these interactions within an urban Lagoon eco-system will enhance the chances for a series of coastal cities worldwide to be better prepared for natural hazards and a changed environment.
Session 2 Impact of global change on socio-economic development
The socio-economic development of Venice has recently reached a critical level, requiring strategic decisions be soon taken in order to avoid the slow deterioration of the city’s cultural heritage and society. The development and changes in the city’s population, transportation, industry, trade, services, tourism, agriculture, and fisheries in the Lagoon, as well as in the surrounding area, are all densely interlinked – balancing these aspects is essential for preserving the quality of life for residents and for protecting the environment. Facing global change mechanisms means the socio-economic system must adapt within this highly vulnerable and complex ecosystem context. The Port of Venice, the Marghera industrial site, the Vega Science Park and the Arsenale are “mega” enterprises within the context of a planned ”city region” concept, which could easily overload the current carrying capacities of the cultural and natural heritage of Venice and the Lagoon. Science is called upon to shed light onto how to best manage and adapt to these global change trends, and to provide a source of guidance for the local decision-making processes necessary for safeguarding Venice and its Lagoon.
Session 3 Culture and development: from restoration to revitalization?
Culture plays a vital role in harnessing creativity for economic and social development. Cultural innovation also contributes to a city’s social fabric, and helps to strengthen a sense of shared identity. While addressing transversal global issues (tourism, governance, cultural and social transformations), this session would like to shed some light on the possible future(s) of the City of Venice, in particular concerning the restoration and re-utilization of its cultural heritage (how to better impact economic, social and human development), the enhancement of sustainable and quality tourism (how to maximize the positive impact of tourism and minimize its counter-effects in a historic city), the safeguarding of a living heritage (how to sustain the viability of intangible cultural heritage) and the making of a creative city (building a dynamic and innovative cultural sector). Important urban rehabilitation projects offer today a new opportunity to re-think the main social and cultural purposes of historical preservation, from a point of view of the city’s future development. Meanwhile, the current demographic trends and social transformations, combined with the unique resources of Venice as a potential hub for cultural innovation, pose an unprecedented challenge for the emergence of a new “creative city”. Leveraging on its cultural added values, can Venice gain and maintain a competitive edge in the global arena?
Working language
The working language will be English. Simultaneous translation to/from Italian will be provided.
Venues
Sunday 13 November 2011
Ca’ Giustinian, Sala delle Colonne San Marco 1364/a - Venice (Italy)
Monday & Tuesday, 14 - 15 November 2011
Venice International University, Aula Magna Island of San Servolo - Venice (Italy) Tel: + 39 041 2719511 Fax: + 39 041 2719510
Contact
UNESCO Venice Office Palazzo Zorzi, Castello 4930 - 30122 Venice (Italy) Tel: +39 041 2601511 Fax : +39 041 5289995 Email: [email protected]
Website http://www.unesco.org/venice/thefutureofvenice