Southern Europe swelters under intense heatwave amid climate change concerns
Southern Europeans braced on Sunday for their first heatwave of the Northern Hemisphere summer, as climate change pushes thermometers on the world's fastest-warming continent increasingly into the red.
Scientists have long warned that humanity's burning of fossil fuels is heating up the world, with disastrous consequences for the environment. Europe's
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NZ Herald
17 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Southern Europe swelters under intense heatwave amid climate change concerns
Southern Europeans braced on Sunday for their first heatwave of the Northern Hemisphere summer, as climate change pushes thermometers on the world's fastest-warming continent increasingly into the red. Scientists have long warned that humanity's burning of fossil fuels is heating up the world, with disastrous consequences for the environment. Europe's
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Europe bakes in summer's first heatwave as continent warms
The heatwave is forecast to become even more intense on Sunday. A woman holds an umbrella to protect herself from the sun on a hot summer day in Rome near the Vatican on June 28, 2025. Italy's health ministry warned residents and tourists on June 27, 2025 of soaring temperatures across the country, issuing a red alert for 21 cities this weekend. The ministry issued its top red alert for cities including the capital Rome, economic powerhouse Milan and Venice. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP) Southern Europeans braced Saturday for the first heatwave of the northern hemisphere summer, as climate change pushes thermometers on the world's fastest-warming continent increasingly into the red. Temperatures are set to rise to 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit) in Rome, driving the Eternal City's many tourists and pilgrims to the Vatican alike towards the Italian capital's 2,500 public fountains for refreshment. With residents of the southern French port city of Marseille expected to have to cope with temperatures flirting with 40C (104F), authorities in 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 42C (108F) expected in the capital Lisbon, while visitors to — and protesters against — Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos's Friday wedding in Venice likewise sweltered under the summer sun. 'There is no wind, a lot of humidity, we are sweating, and I'm suffocating at night,' Alejandra Echeverria, a 40-year-old Mexican tourist to Venice, told AFP on Saturday. 'I try not to think about it, but I drink a lot of water and never stay still, because that's when you get sunstroke,' Sriane Mina, an Italian student, told AFP the day before. Scientists have long warned that humanity's burning of fossil fuels is heating up the world with disastrous consequences for the environment, with Europe's ever-hotter and increasingly common blistering summer heatwaves a direct result of that warming. The heatwave is forecast to become even more intense on Sunday. Spain, which has in past years seen a series of deadly summer blazes ravaging the Iberian peninsula, is expecting peak temperatures in excess of 40C (104F) across most of the country. ALSO READ: UK trip great if planned well Outdoor work ban According to the Spanish meteorological agency, temperatures may even register 42C (108F) in some areas, including the Guadalquivir, Guadiana, and Tagus regions. The past three years have been the hottest in Spain's history. With peaks of 39C (102F) 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's trade unions are campaigning to extend the measure to other parts of the country. In Nice, on the French Riviera, nearly 250 fans have been distributed to schools over the past two weeks to help cope with the heat. The heatwave comes hot on the heels of a series of tumbling records for extreme heat, including Europe's hottest March ever, according to the EU's Copernicus climate monitor. As a result of the planet's warming, extreme weather events including hurricanes, droughts, floods and heatwaves like this weekend's have become more frequent and intense, scientists warn. By some estimates 2024, the hottest year in recorded history so far, saw worldwide disasters that cost more than $300 billion. READ NEXT: Travel alert: Two less visa-free entries for SA passport holders
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Europe bakes in summer's first heatwave as continent warms
A tourist holds an umbrella to protect from the sun during her visit at the Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill in Athens, on June 27. PHOTO: REUTERS MARSEILLE - Southern Europeans braced on June 28 for the first heatwave of the northern hemisphere summer, as climate change pushes thermometers on the world's fastest-warming continent increasingly into the red. Temperatures are set to rise to 37 deg C in Rome, driving the Eternal City's many tourists and pilgrims to the Vatican alike towards the Italian capital's 2,500 public fountains for refreshment. With residents of the southern French port city of Marseille expected to have to cope with temperatures flirting with 40 deg C, authorities in 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 June 29 for extreme heat and forest fires, with 42 deg C expected in the capital Lisbon, while visitors to – and protesters against – Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos's June 27 wedding in Venice likewise sweltered under the summer sun. 'There is no wind, a lot of humidity, we are sweating, and I'm suffocating at night,' Ms Alejandra Echeverria, a 40-year-old Mexican tourist to Venice, told AFP on June 28. 'I try not to think about it, but I drink a lot of water and never stay still, because that's when you get sunstroke,' Ms Sriane Mina, an Italian student, told AFP on June 27. Scientists have long warned that humanity's burning of fossil fuels is heating up the world with disastrous consequences for the environment, with Europe's ever-hotter and increasingly common blistering summer heatwaves a direct result of that warming. The heatwave is forecast to become even more intense on June 29. 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 deg C across most of the country. Outdoor work ban According to the Spanish meteorological agency, temperatures may even register 42 deg C in some areas, including the Guadalquivir, Guadiana, and Tagus regions. The past three years have been the hottest in Spain's history. With peaks of 39 deg 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's trade unions are campaigning to extend the measure to other parts of the country. In Nice, on the French Riviera, nearly 250 fans have been distributed to schools over the past two weeks to help cope with the heat. The heatwave comes hot on the heels of a series of tumbling records for extreme heat, including Europe's hottest March ever, according to the EU's Copernicus climate monitor. As a result of the planet's warming, extreme weather events including hurricanes, droughts, floods and heatwaves like this weekend's have become more frequent and intense, scientists warn. By some estimates 2024, the hottest year in recorded history so far, saw worldwide disasters that cost more than US$300 billion (S$383 billion). AFP Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
