Yes, we do get desensitized to climate change. At least here in the US. On one side we have Trump saying it does not exist and a huge base following it and on the other we have AOC saying the world will end in 12 years and a huge base following it.

So you get us in the middle who just ignore it all because after hearing both extremes for so long you again get desensitized to it all.

I liked what Arnold Schwarzenegger said "I don't give a if we agree about climate change.". We should just work to reduce our emmisions anyway and make everything cleaner.

I do know people tend to be more receptive to slow change. You take their SUV's away in 5 years, there will be issues. You start slowly phasing them out, it will probably work better. Also efficeint cars seem to expensive. You can buy a used car that will last 5 years for $3000 that gets crappy gas milage, or a new hybrid car for $20,000. one can argue about saving movey on gas, but you will never save $10k worth of money and for people with little money that is what they need to get by.