Choice of the individual...

What is the choice if the individual and what promts them to choose it?
The choice of people is also influenced by what they see, what is projected in the media and what they think gives then the most evidence. We now know what global warming is, what it is doing to our planet and what the government and other bodies are attempting to do to halt or even try to reverse some of the damage. However we don’t know why everyone knows about it now and not many years ago. So why has it taken so long for the world to realise, to know and to accept that the very existence of life is at risk? Many times the individual choses to believe what will benefit him the most, or what he sees the majority of the public believing. People no matter what age are subject to peer pressure. People in a way are also similar to government and industry, they chose the benefitting choice. This is 'easier' choice and costs less money and time. So why now do people take climate change into account and not for years before? Is is because there are many more options available now to reduce, recycle and reuse items to help lower pollution and general harmful emissions? Is it because recycling options and materials have become cheaper to purchase, or that the cost will somehow benefit people in the long run? Or is it the media? This topic now is widely covered within the media and as such appears more believable and evidence seems to prove it more so than ever before. So was it the choice to publicize the topic, the choice of the media to present it in a more public way, to almost force it on society and to make people accept it through extensive presentation of evidence, information and ongoing publications as people believe hard evidence rather than theories?