La Story (Les Echos) Analysis: Ancient Greek Heritage Threatened by Climate Change—The Medieval City of Rhodes, the Submergence of Delos, and Wildfires in Olympia
▶ Original Episode: https://shows.acast.com/la-story/episodes/grece-les-tresors-antiques-menaces-par-le-dereglement-climat
July 29, 2026
Overview
This article is a Japanese adaptation of an episode from "La Story," the daily podcast of the French economic newspaper Les Echos. Basile de Coninck, a correspondent based in Greece, discusses with host Pierrick the ancient Greek heritage currently under threat from climate change.
Greece is not only a land of gastronomy and beaches but also a vast historical territory home to thousands of archaeological sites. However, as the Mediterranean region warms at a pace exceeding the global average, these heritage sites face complex threats, including heatwaves, massive wildfires, floods from torrential rain, and rising sea levels.
In the program, Basile covers the deterioration of the medieval city of Rhodes, which he visited in person, the impending submergence of the ruins on Delos and Malia in Crete due to rising sea levels, and the case of Olympia, which has been repeatedly threatened by wildfires. The discussion also addresses the national strategy for heritage protection launched by the Greek government and its limitations.
Athens Drowning in Overtourism and the Allure of Archaeological Heritage
Athens welcomes 8 to 10 million tourists annually, a figure nearly equivalent to Greece's population of approximately 10 million. While travelers drawn by the Acropolis and its millennia of history are guided by legitimate appeal, it is excessive for local residents, leading to laments that "the city of the gods is losing its soul." Overtourism is also considered a problem in other popular Greek destinations such as the Cyclades and Santorini.
Last year, Greece as a whole saw 38 million visitors, with approximately 20 million entries to historical sites and museums. Of those, the Acropolis alone accounted for 4.6 million, making it one of the most visited monuments in the world. There are many globally renowned sites, including Delphi, Epidaurus, Sounion, Olympia, and Mycenae.
However, according to Basile, the future of these riches of the past is becoming bleaker due to climate change rather than the increase in tourists themselves.
Deterioration Creeping into the Medieval City of Rhodes
Basile visited Rhodes, the center of the Dodecanese islands. At the northern tip of the island lies a medieval city built by the Knights of St. John between 1309 and 1523. Reflecting a history of subsequent occupation by the Ottoman Empire and Italy in the 20th century, it contains a diverse array of monuments from every era, surrounded by a 4km-long wall. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988.
Basile was guided by Haralabos Marneras, known by the nickname "Babis." He is in charge of civil protection for the Dodecanese Ephorate (a regional branch of the Greek Ministry of Culture responsible for the management, monitoring, and protection of monuments), where he works on developing evacuation plans for residents during disasters, fires, and floods, as well as the conservation of historical buildings.
According to Babis, rain is becoming more intense every year, and because drainage channels were not designed to withstand such volumes of water, wells overflow and water gushes into the alleys. Walking through the city, the collapse is not so dramatic that it is visible to the naked eye. However, if one looks closely, crumbling walls, stone weathering into powder, and eroded statues can be found everywhere. Scientists say that climate change is accelerating deterioration, causing damage that would normally take centuries to occur in just a few decades.
The medieval city of Rhodes is built from limestone called Poros. Poros is a soft, porous stone containing air bubbles like a sponge, making it vulnerable to wind, salt, and extreme temperatures.
The 2023 Heatwaves and Massive Wildfires
In recent years, extreme temperatures have become a problem on Rhodes. 2023 was the hottest year on record, struck by long and intense heatwaves and drought. As a result, a massive wildfire occurred that year, burning 70,000 hectares. In addition, sudden torrential rains have been causing floods.
In April 2025, torrential rain struck the islands of Paros, Mykonos, and Rhodes, causing severe and sudden flooding. The government declared a state of emergency. In Naoussa, a tourist hub on Paros, rivers of mud ran through the streets, and parked cars were swept away like drifting ships. Basile's guide remarked, "We are constantly bracing ourselves for what new disaster might come next."
The Threat of Rising Sea Levels
Another danger is rising sea levels. The Mediterranean is a region warming at a pace 20% faster than the global average. Air and sea surface temperatures are rising, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, and the sea level is rising faster than in other regions. This is a particularly serious threat to the many coastal archaeological sites.
In Rhodes, the Mediterranean sea level has risen by more than 20 cm since 1880 and is expected to rise by another 80 cm by 2100. If it reaches 80 cm, some houses and walls could find their foundations submerged.
In 2022, a major study published by the Academy of Athens, Greece's highest academic institution, found that 12 out of 20 Greek monuments registered as UNESCO World Heritage sites are threatened to varying degrees by at least one effect of global warming by 2100. These include Mycenae, Tiryns, and Delos.
On the other hand, the Parthenon is virtually immune to sea-level rise and erosion because it sits atop the Acropolis hill, and it is relatively protected from fire due to its location in the center of Athens. However, because Athens is situated on a seismic fault, it cannot be considered completely safe from earthquakes.
Olympia, repeatedly threatened by fire
In Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, a fire reached the sacred site in 2007, destroying the surrounding vegetation and damaging the museum. Miraculously, the monuments were unharmed. In 2021, another fire approached, and it was only stopped after several days of deploying dozens of firefighters, aircraft, and helicopters.
In 2022, a massive fire reached the gates of Athens, and 118 fires were recorded during the same period. Olympia, along with 19 other ancient sites, has been declared a 'climate emergency' zone.
At sites where the crisis is most imminent, archaeologists are racing against time. Examples include Malia on Crete and the sacred island of Delos. Malia is a grand palace built by the Minoan civilization in the second millennium BC; it is located on the coast, and much remains to be excavated. However, as sea-level rise accelerates, it is already known that some coastal parts will be lost before exploration can be completed, and researchers from the French School at Athens are trying to document them before it is too late.
Delos crumbling in 'live broadcast'
Delos is an extremely special site, considered by the ancient Greeks to be the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, the center of the Delian League, and a key trading hub in the Eastern Mediterranean. Because it was abandoned after the 7th century, its state of preservation is exceptionally good, providing a precious window into antiquity.
However, Delos is one of the most urgent cases in Greece in terms of erosion and sea-level rise. The sea level is rising twice as fast as the global average, and at the same time, the island is sinking due to tectonic shifts. Scientists fear that in a pessimistic scenario, parts of the area will be flooded by the end of this century, waves will reach further inland, and the stones will become rapidly brittle due to exposure to moisture and salt. This affects important monuments such as the ancient port, the Agora of Theophrastus, and the sanctuary.
Jean-Charles Moretti, head of the French School at Athens' excavations on Delos, testifies: 'Places where you could once walk with dry feet are now impassable. Compared to photos taken ten years ago, the deterioration is astonishing.' Already, an area of ancient shops that was not previously submerged is now underwater and closed to the public. The highest point on Delos is 113m, which highlights its vulnerability compared to Mykonos at 392m or Santorini at 567m.
The Greek government's national strategy and its limitations
Since around 2022, UNESCO has positioned climate change as the greatest threat to World Heritage sites, surpassing geopolitical risks, and has been sounding the alarm to various countries. Greece is at the forefront of this field, having engaged in cultural diplomacy for about a decade to mobilize other nations toward the UN and COP (Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change). Christos Zerefos, Secretary General of the Academy of Athens and a renowned climatologist, plays a central role.
The Greek government has launched a national strategy to protect 19 monuments identified as being at risk. These include Olympia, the sanctuary of Delphi, Dion, the Byzantine city of Mystras, and the Minoan Palace of Knossos. In Olympia, smoke detectors and water spray systems surrounding the ruins have been installed, and firebreaks have been created in the forests. The budget for this plan is 22 million euros (approximately 4.1 billion yen, calculated at 1 euro = 186.46 yen), but it is unclear whether this will be sufficient.
On the other hand, Basile points out that the government has a double-faced aspect. The Greek government, seeking energy independence, has resumed gas exploration in the Mediterranean, which is an activity that generates greenhouse gases.
On Delos, temperature and humidity sensors, tide gauges, seismometers, and satellite geodetic systems have been deployed near the ruins for several months to monitor and analyze meteorological, oceanographic, and seismic conditions in millimeter detail, aiming to grasp the dangers approaching the island and find solutions. However, Basile notes that the government's plan does not include items regarding public awareness for tourists.
Water shortages and labor shortages threatening tourism
The fires, floods, and frequent storms caused by climate change are indirectly threatening not only Greece's heritage but also its tourism industry. Beyond the future of temples and amphitheaters, the water shortage threatening Athens and many islands is also a serious concern. The government launched a 2.5 billion euro (approximately 466.1 billion yen, calculated at 1 euro = 186.46 yen) plan last October to address this danger.
Furthermore, Basile points out the shortage of seasonal workers. As of the start of the summer season, there were 85,000 job openings for waiters, housekeepers, kitchen staff, and others.
▶ Previous in the same series: La Story (Les Echos) Analysis: Heatwaves are changing the real estate market—Zinc-roofed Paris, the rush for homes with pools, and the 'heat bottle' problem https://note.com/yondo/n/n20d45f6ad821
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