Rome, fearing a fall to floods, is gearing up for a fight against climate change

The ancient and iconic city of Rome is facing a menacing challenge: the impact of drastic climate change along with the threats of flooding, which is beyond the capacity of the city.

Drawing lessons from the devastating floods of Emilia-Romagna in May, the need for the City of Seven Hills to confront the problem of weather crisis head on, grows further.

The Emilia-Romagna deluge

The recent catastrophic floods in Emilia-Romagna, which was termed as the most severe flooding that Italy has faced in the last 100 years, serve as a strong and recurring reminder of the severe effect and consequences of climate change.

• The flood caused 13 casualties and left approximately 20,000 people homeless.
• The cause of it all was said to be 23 river banks bursting up along with more than 250 landslides that caused flooding of 41 cities and towns.

The severity of the situation reached to such an extent that the F1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was canceled. 

Understanding Rome's vulnerability:

Rome's geographic location is one of the leading causes that increases its vulnerability to flooding.

• The Tiber river, which traverses the city and is renowned historically for one of the leading sources of freshwater, also stands to pose a significant threat during periods of heavy rainfall.
• Rising sea levels exacerbate this risk, raising its water level and ultimately engulfing portions of Rome and making it imperative for the city to implement timely adaptive measures.

With the recent trends of climate change projections in Italy and according to multiple reports, there's a higher likelihood of extreme weather events, necessitating immediate action.

Mitigation and adaptation

This is a clear indication and alert call for Rome to prioritize infrastructure improvements.

• Investment in effective drainage systems, riverbank reinforcement, and flood barriers will help control water flow during periods of intense rainfall, all in order to tackle the challenges of flood mitigation and adaptation. 
• Additionally, mapping flood-prone areas and implementing early warning systems can facilitate timely evacuations and reduce human casualties.

This doesn’t stop here

Even before these recent floods, Emilia-Romagna and several other areas in Northern Italy were hit by excruciating droughts that dried land areas out of their ability to absorb water.

The year 2022 was recorded as the hottest year ever in Italy with numerous acute weather events that even caused deaths. Apart from droughts, what has also been a prevailing disaster phenomenon in Italy are landslides, with a recent landslide in an island of Ischia, which claimed the lives of 12 people which even included children.

Rome finds itself at a vital decision-making point,  which comes with the window of confronting the dual challenges of climate change and flooding. Picking a strong reference from the Emilia-Romagna floods, the city walks towards an uncertain and dangerous point, where things can worsen if left unnoticed.