I just searched “climate change” on Google Trends, but I am still reeling from what I have found. Starting in January 2004, the interest in the subject has grown until the peak in December 2009, but it has declined ever since. If it was at 100 points at the peak, it ended up at 34 points this month. The most recent peak was in September and December 2014, when it was at 44 and 42 points, respectively. The last date coincided with Lima climate talks. Judging by these numbers, I would guess that Paris climate talks could get to no more than between 50 and 60 Google points. Amazing! Humans are losing interest in the subject. By extension, they are losing interest in their own future. The present is the present, after all.

Addendum I (November 28, 2015)

It is just a couple of days ahead of Paris climate talks, and so I searched for “climate change” on Google Trends once again. There is a new peak forming, all right, but it is at 57 Google points at present. This is what I predicted in the original piece, as well. I would expect this figure to rise a bit next month, but that will be that. By comparison with the previous peak, this one will remain puny. Simply put, climate change will not be of much interest to my fellow humans before the proverbial shit hits the fan. And I have the rich world in mind. Only when floods and droughts and storms and fires start threatening Americans and Europeans on a regular basis will there be a new peak of interest in climate change worth talking about. In the meanwhile, forget it. As far as Google Trends go, the peaks to watch for will be in entertainment and sports, as ever.

Addendum II (April 7, 2016)

To wrap up this sad story, here are the latest Google results regarding “climate change” as a search phrase. Last November and December are at 60 and 65 Google points, whereas January and February this year are at 43 and March at 48 points. For the last time, the interest in the subject has peaked around Paris climate talks and drooped afterwards. And this conclusion comes straight from the search information provided by the topmost browser on the World Wide Web. Amen.