Some places seem to float outside of time, suspended above the passage of centuries. Consider megalithic dolmens, standing firm since prehistory. These massive stone slabs, born of human ingenuity, interweave architecture and landscape into culture. Into heritage.
Yet heritage is far more than a collection of monuments. For UNESCO, it is the cultural and natural legacy inherited from the past and passed down to future generations. It embodies identity, a sense of belonging, and the sharing of knowledge, values, and traditions across generations. Whether embodied in archaeological sites, artisanal crafts, traditions, or landscapes, heritage represents our shared memory. Protecting it means safeguarding a part of who we are.
The challenge is that this legacy faces severe threats today. Rapid urbanization and climate change are forcing a complete rethink of heritage preservation so these places, traditions, and landscapes survive for decades to come, withstanding harsh weather while fitting naturally into modern life.
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Aptly known as the City of Canals, life in Venice has always been defined by water. Rain, drought, and floods have shaped its history. Yet today, driven by rising sea levels and increasingly severe weather events, the Italian city finds itself in a precarious position.
Aptly known as the City of Canals, life in Venice has always been defined by water. Rain, drought, and floods have shaped its history. Yet today, driven by rising sea levels and increasingly severe weather events, the Italian city finds itself in a precarious position.
In 2019, Venice suffered one of its worst acqua alta episodes on record, causing extensive damage to homes and historic buildings. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns, sea levels will continue to rise for years to come. Coastal cities, especially those with invaluable cultural heritage, will bear the brunt.
Human ingenuity, however, is already delivering solutions. To counter extreme high tides, Venice deployed the MOSE system (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico, or Experimental Electromechanical Module). Costing over €5 billion, this colossal hydraulic engineering project (among the largest ever undertaken in Europe) uses 78 mobile gates installed at the lagoon’s inlets that inflate with air to hold back the Adriatic Sea.
The system activates whenever forecasts indicate sea levels will exceed 110 centimetres, which is the critical flood threshold for the city. Compressed air injected into the hollow gates causes them to rise and float, forming a temporary barrier. Once the tide recedes, the air is released, allowing the gates to sink back into the seabed so ships can pass and natural water flows resume.
Through this pioneering technology, MOSE prevents flooding in the lowest-lying areas of Venice during traditional autumn rains and high tides, when water levels can reach up to 140 centimetres (acqua alta is officially declared at 80 centimetres). This protection is vital for the city’s heritage, as these low-lying areas include St Mark’s Square, whose Basilica, piazza, and Doge’s Palace form the historic and tourist heart of Venice.
That addresses climate adaptation. But what happens when the vital energy transition intersects directly with cultural heritage? Can we bridge the apparent divide between archaeological and landscape preservation and solar or wind potential? The Extremadura I, II, and III photovoltaic complex in Almendralejo (Badajoz) demonstrates that co-existence is not only possible, but mutually beneficial.
Developed by ACCIONA Energía and commissioned in early 2023, the complex comprises three state-of-the-art solar plants capable of generating enough energy to supply more than 65,000 homes annually. Yet its impact extends far beyond clean power generation.
Its construction helped uncover eleven archaeological sites, including Cortijo Lobato, one of the most remarkable finds in Spain in recent years. Prior survey work identified layers of human activity spanning thousands of years. Traces of the Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Late Roman Empire overlap like a historical palimpsest within the exact same footprint.
From settlements dating back to 2800 BC to a 2,000-year-old Roman iron dagger, the excavations enabled by the Almendralejo complex are yielding invaluable historical knowledge. It stands as a clear demonstration that renewable energy development can work hand-in-hand with archaeological research and the preservation of human history across the centuries.
Ultimately, Venice shows that cultural preservation must go hand-in-hand with climate adaptation today. Meanwhile, the Almendralejo complex proves that the energy transition need not come at the expense of archaeological conservation; quite the opposite. Together, MOSE and the Extremadura I, II, and III complex prove that engineering can directly support our heritage, keeping culture alive and safeguarding who we are.
Mariana Toro Nader is a journalist, writer, and visual artist. Holding a degree in Journalism and Political Science with a focus on International Relations, as well as a Master’s in Creative Writing, she has focused her career on culture, literature, technology, psychology, and thought. She has worked as an editor and staff writer for international media outlets such as CNN en Español and National Geographic, as well as various magazines across Spain and Latin America, including Ethic, Jot Down, Generación, and Soho.