Rome wasn’t built for today’s climate. Is there time to save it?

Rome wasn’t built in a day, but a large portion of it can be devastated in a few hours when an extreme weather event hits, according to experts studying the city’s vulnerability. Rising temperatures are making severe storms more frequent globally, but what makes Rome a ticking climate time bomb is a combination of outdated infrastructures and decades of planning policy decisions that largely ignored the unfolding crisis.

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The main threat comes from water. The city is built on a hydraulic balance that is designed for a pre-industrial climate. A massive flood of the Tiber River would be devastating, and it is not a question of if it will happen, but when. 

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Today, acting on the permeability of the ground is almost the only way to reduce risks and limit damages.

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Infiltration basins, rain gardens, and other nature-based solutions that collect huge amounts of water and let it percolate slowly into the ground are innovative solutions to mitigate risks in flood-prone urban areas like Rome. However, [hydraulic engineer and expert on Rome water system Aldo Fiori] warns, “if they are built without an overall vision, they may not be beneficial, and in some cases can be even counterproductive. You need a carefully coordinated, comprehensive plan to make the infiltration mechanisms work the right way. ”

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The three priorities set by [Edoardo Zanchini,  director of Rome's Office for the Climate] are: Prevent Rome from running out of water, mitigate the risks of disastrous flooding, and set emergency measures to counter the effect of deadly heat waves during the summer, which disproportionately affect older and economically fragile people.