We don't have a very good record as a species at dealing with this sort of problem.

Sometimes events have their own inertia, and the problem just continues to get worse long after its recognized, and when it might have been possible to slow, stop or even reverse it.

I'm not convinced we could have done much to deal with this problem, the benefits of mass industrialization are just too seductive, the consequences too seemingly separate and delayed from the causes. Its next to impossible to get around the human inability to work together on long term projects with high costs now and benefits uncertain, and only accruing to future generations.

I do believe we have learned something, though, perhaps something we've always known, but now terribly obvious and clear. People are willing to delude themselves completely when they feel their immediate prosperity or welfare is threatened, even if only in a relatively minor way. Not only are they capable of deluding themselves, they can be ruthless with those who they feel responsible for pointing out that threat.

The opposition to the global warming meme has not just been about skepticism over the facts, or debate over their interpretation, or a misunderstanding of the severity of the consequences. It has been cast as an ideological conflict, a philosophical war, a clash of civilizations. It has been seen as an example of class struggle, and the battle lines have been drawn along economic, political and social class boundaries. The Cassandras were not dismissed as just being wrong, or even crazy; they were depicted as conspirators, as evil, as traitors.

Those sounding the alarm about climate change weren't just mistaken, they had an ulterior motive, one that involved stealing wealth and power from those who had earned it fairly, through hard work. They were painted as cynical opportunists bent on world domination and tyranny, members of a vast conspiracy against freedom and liberty. It was all a plot against their property, so the Communists had to be behind it all.

You cannot reason with that mentality, because you're not even talking about the same thing.