"Venice's destiny is linked to that of the planet," Paolo Cacciari, a Venice municipal councillor told a news conference. Cacciari was speaking after a letter signed by 73 coastal cities worldwide was submitted to the US delegation attending the two-day global conference of environment ministers in Milan.

"If Kyoto is not ratified, we will be submerged," Cacciari warned.

A similar letter was submitted to US President George W. Bush two years ago by the cities that include Alexandria, in Egypt, Brazil's Rio de Janeiro and the Senegalese capital of Dakar.

"For two years we have been waiting for a response," Cacciari said. "We are also waiting for countries to adopt an aggressive and concrete policy in favour of reducing gas emissions."

Venice has sunk by 22 centimeters in the last four years and parts of the city are flooded every year by the rising sea waters, Cacciari said.

SPACE.WIRE