Spain is expecting peak temperatures exceeding 40掳C across much of the country. (Envato Elements pic)MARSEILLE: Sweating Europeans braced today for the first heatwave of the northern hemisphere summer, as climate change pushes the world鈥檚 fastest-warming continent鈥檚 thermometers increasingly into the red.Temperatures are set to rise to 37掳C in Rome, driving the Eternal City鈥檚 many tourists and Catholic pilgrims to the Vatican alike towards the Italian capital鈥檚 some 2,500 public fountains for refreshment.With residents of the southern port city of Marseille expected to have to cope with temperatures flirting with 40掳C, authorities in France鈥檚 second-largest city ordered public swimming pools to be made free of charge to help residents beat the Mediterranean heat.Two-thirds of Portugal will be on high alert on Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires with 42掳C expected in the capital Lisbon, while visitors to 鈥 and protesters against 鈥 Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos鈥檚 Friday wedding in Venice likewise sweltered under the summer sun.鈥淚 try not to think about it, but I drink a lot of water and never stay still, because that鈥檚 when you get sunstroke,鈥 Sriane Mina, an Italian student, told AFPTV on Friday in Venice.Meanwhile Spain, which has in past years seen a series of deadly summer blazes ravaging the Iberian peninsula, is expecting peak temperatures in excess of 40掳C across most of the country from Sunday.Scientists have long warned that humanity鈥檚 burning of fossil fuels is heating up the world with disastrous consequences for the environment, with Europe鈥檚 ever-hotter and increasingly common blistering summer heatwaves a direct result of that warming.With peaks of 39掳C expected in Naples and Palermo, Sicily has ordered a ban on outdoor work in the hottest hours of the day, as has the Liguria region in northern Italy.The country鈥檚 trade unions are campaigning to extend the measure to other parts of the country.The heatwave comes hot on the heels of a series of tumbling records for extreme heat, including Europe鈥檚 hottest March ever, according to the EU鈥檚 Copernicus climate monitor.As a result of the planet鈥檚 warming, extreme weather events including hurricanes, droughts, floods and heatwaves like this weekend鈥檚 have become more frequent and intense, scientists warn.By some estimates 2024, the hottest year in recorded history so far, saw worldwide disasters which cost more than US$300 billion.