The companies that created the world's biggest environmental problems also launch PR campaigns to distract individuals into striving to reduce their personal contributions to these problems, instead of organizing to change the systems that cause them. They also lull people with the fantasy that they might someday enjoy the life styles of millionaires.

I disagree with Monbiot's dismissal of a carbon tax. If the tax rate is big enough, and schduled to grow steadingly year by year, it can mobilize massive investment in decarbonization along with general divestment from fossil fuel companies. What won't work is a small, token carbon tax.