Institutional reform gets populist pushback if ordinary consumers remain dependant on fossil fuels.

For reducing carbon footprint, personal lifestyle choices are important. Some people think they don't matter as much as institutional reform such as changing corporations.

Problem is, when business is taxed and regulated, it often passes the cost along to consumers and workers. Then consumers tend to push against the changes which can swing politics to the right. The institutional changes get repealed from the rise of populism. Trump, for instance.

Both lifestyle and institutional changes are important, but consumers have to be ready to except the consequences of institutional changes in the prices of things like carbon based fuels.

Transitions happen one step at a time and we can never have it all. Tradeoffs are inevitable. The future can still be healthier and better than the stressful present if we can accept change.