Jane Holz Kay mentions that "Venice introduced adjustable barriers to prevent tidal flooding."

This is not the case. Two years ago, Italy's Prime Minister Berlusconi laid the first "brick" of a huge construction project that is far from completed and that is fiercely contested by environmentalists and local citizens. Simply put, Venice needs to be protected, and the government/construction industry project is the wrong way to do it.

As a general rule, coastal defence should start by studying and enhancing how ecosystem processes work - not by asking construction companies to take over the problem.