The reality is that most people won't be doing much for the environment unless it touches their pocket book.
Many people have a hard time stopping self destructive things such as gambling, overeating, smoking, drugs and alcohol and you expect them to care about what might happen in 50-1000 years?
Hence the reason for governments to establish poicies that are sound. Of course, it takes 1000 of hours to debate, play politics and finally making a decision which ultimately might be proven wrong.
I certainly don't expect us to be able to save the planet. We are way too selfish and arrogant to be able to do this in time. I am positive we will kill ourselves in the long run but fortunately I probably won't be there to witness it. In the meantime I try do to what I can with what I think is right although I seriously doubt it matters much.