Addicted individuals hardly change behavior until they hit the proverbial rock bottom. And it's still a toss up in terms of long term changes. I have no reason to believe we'd fare better collectively. Society won't change patterns of demand and activity until after disaster strikes. And even then, we're as likely to cling on to high energy consumption life styles and just letting poor countries perish as to actually renounce this insane 2/3 cars per family, huge homes and offices air conditioned to brisk temperatures lifestyle.

Southern Europe burns while Northern Europe is mowing grass and blowing leaves by burning gasoline in portable engines. It feels like the opening of a disaster movie.