On the flip side, the “solutions” that boil down to admonishing people not to do patently useful things are politically impossible, unless they propose a solution to the new problem they’re creating.

The people so egar to keep up these behaviors should solve that problem themselves. They aren't entitled to have other people carry the burden of supporting their wasteful lifestyle.

Recent history notwithstanding, politics is fundamentally about consensus and compromise. Regardless of the strength of your personal belief, change won’t happen until you convince a majority of people (or their representatives) to vote for your specific plan. Ostracism strengthens the opinions of people on both sides of the issue; it works directly against what has to happen to make actual progress.

Frankly, you are jumping to conclusions. I don't drive a car, despite being a former “petrol head”. I am stating a hard truth, but apparently hard truths are hard to swallow on either side. If anything, you should chance your attitude.

My claim is that the realities of our climate are harder than political realities. Changing people's minds is a necessary part of a solution, so if we can't do that then there is no hope at all.

Except these personal changes would have very little effect if any.