"In addition, there is not a lot that an individual can do that will dramatically affect his carbon footprint. Neighborhoods don't magically become walkable or bikeable. Businesses don't magically implement work-from-home because a low-level employee wills it (see: Yahoo). "

I don't buy that, that attitude I largely why we're in this situation.

It's the individuals which make up the whole, if each individual did something, then the whole would be better off.