How (more importantly, "where") are decisions made that drive the entire system of destruction?

At the checkouts.

Regardless of the research, intentions, political lies or truths, ALL of the modern world is oriented around the pivot point of the purchase. Most consumers have no idea how much damage they are doing to the planet, except in an ethereal sense and some conditioned desire toward one morality or another, and when it all comes down to making a choice, they do so based on the money they have available (or credit, usually), and the price of the item.

If you want to save the planet, then the answer is to put ALL overhead costs of civilization (including UBI and health care) into a sales tax at the point that the decisions are made.

Everything else is foggy and illusional.

It's all in the marketing, and it's ALL marketing: and that marketing is tax-deductible.