We are already too late.
It's not a cliff edge where stay one side and you're fine without issues but cross the line and disaster. We have already caused massive damage to our climate and it's costing money and lives. Dither around wondering how long we've got and maybe doing less and slower means worse damage, higher costs and more lives.
Some things are complex and just because they are complex doesn't mean we can ignore them and just keep our fingers crossed or maybe cross them in a few years which might suit us better.
One problem is, who is the we in your last sentence?
Mankind: as a whole, it is too amorphous.
Leaders: likewise and they are too concerned about their political survival and what most advantages them and their country. Plus look at the latest world climate conference and the lack of involvement by the major and most important/influential nations.
The plebs : in general they/we are too ignorant of the science and the facts behind it re. climate change, and too tied up in their/our own struggle to get by, or chasing mammon, to give it the priority it probably deserves or to push their leaders to do so.
You and me: as individuals the impact of what we do only counts if enough numbers do the same (see the previous point). I am not doing much except recycling, cutting back on flying on holidays, but I have not lobbied my MP nor dumped my ICE car. Perhaps you are doing more and I congratulate you if so.
