“If we’re 50, it will be the end of the world.” Jean-Michel Clausse, president of VIVA 06, has no illusions about the number of participants who will gather on Saturday at 2 PM in front of the old prefecture of Vieux Nice. The association “Living in the City Differently in 06” is organizing, on the occasion of this international day against climate change, a festive demonstration on roller skates or bicycles, with face paint or costumes, to make as much noise as possible and be heard by elected officials. “We have a lot of trouble motivating people,” regrets Jean-Michel Clausse, “it’s denial or apathy that dominates, even though the situation is already catastrophic.” The same observation is made by Christiane Carron-Fourt, volunteer coordinator for Greenpeace Nice. “It feels like people don’t realize the seriousness of the situation. Even if the sky is blue and the little birds are chirping, the Côte d’Azur is not immune to the consequences of climate change.” This is confirmed by Claude Léglantier, head of the departmental weather center in the Alpes-Maritimes. “In the space of 20 or 30 years, the climate in the south of France will resemble that of the Maghreb. We will witness a semi-desertification of the Mediterranean region as well as a certain rise in sea levels. Storms will become more frequent. The economic impact, in terms of population transfer, is also not negligible.” But the expert reassures, this scenario is only to be considered in the event of total passivity of governments and the population.
An ambient fatalism.
Mindsets will be difficult to change. This becomes even more apparent when questioning the residents of Nice in the streets. Whether they are 15, 35, 50, or 60 years old, the inhabitants of the Côte d’Azur seem very carefree. 
Almost everyone conserves their energy expenditure, but it is more out of frugality than real ecological awareness. Everyone fears the consequences of climate change, and yet, fatalism prevails. For Benoît, 25, it’s the industries that pollute the most. “Even if we all get involved, all 60 million of us, it won’t change anything,” he states. “Everyone says we need to do something,” adds Claire, 23, “and in the end, we do nothing.” For Andrée, Étienne, and Thérèse, 61, 79, and 81 years old, “the disasters are already here. We can no longer fix things.” Kamel, 32, goes even further: “we are going to destroy our planet!” “We are in a society of excessive consumption, so now, there is no solution. Who would want to go back? I have only one thing to say: live the best you can with the time you have left,” concludes Daniel, 60.
In the meantime, catastrophic declarations are multiplying. Yesterday, Sir Nicholas Stern presented the bill for climate change in an official report commissioned by Tony Blair: 5.5 trillion euros and 200 million climate refugees by 2100 if nothing is done before then.
