I think, awareness isn't our problem when it comes to environmental degradation and the reason why this is so is because there are people who are benefiting from these pollution and degradation hence it makes it very easy to continue the pollution at the expenses of the environment, government, big industries and many more. They attempt to farm resources at a rate without even giving chance for recovery. Sometimes people take and take without making attempts at replenishing it afterall they won't live forever to bear the consequences.
It's a sad situation when it comes to man and his environment, change is slow like you've mentioned, becomes even more difficult by the day.

@tipu curate