Actually, I think they knew long ago that this is where we would go and when. The media just kept the economy separate from the climate: anyone who watches both could see that "we can't afford to change consumer behavior" would be the dominant paradigm. Democrats don't want to tax consumers and Republicans won't tax the rich. All of the science is just masturbation if the economy doesn't get throttled somewhere. Unfettered growth and mindless waste for profit worked great while everyone got fat, drunk and stupid. It may not be a good way to go through life, but it's the easy way to go through death.

Humanity always takes the easiest way until it gets stuck between a rock and a warred place.