I actually don't think that sustainability can be reached within the confines of a capitalist system, since economic growth always entails the use of more non-renewable resources (there has never been a case where growth was achieved without using more resources). Profit is unsustainable by its very definition. If we want sustainability than a new economic system is required where basically, non-renewable resources would be rationed to industry at a rate which allowed them to develop renewable alternatives, without completely wrecking the bottom line.
Politically, I think there are too many powerful people interested in maintaining business as usual. I think the chance for voluntary conservation on the part of governments is nil, since they are manipulated by the businesses which profit from continued consumption. If anything they will do everything they can to increase consumption. Remember Bush "go shopping America" and Dick Cheney "The American way of life is non-negotiable".
I think the only way to sustainability is for the "pain factor" to significantly increase. We are having problems in my city (Austin, TX) with getting the political backing for a city wide rail mass transit sytem. The solution is to increase central city density to the point where it is too painful to drive due to the number of cars, and then people will vote for transit. In the interim though we have several years of horrid traffic and smog to look forward to. Likewise, the only things I think that will lead to significant change are:
1) much higher gas prices. Try $5/gallon. I think that would lead to major changes in transportation policy.
2) increased severity of climate change effects - eventually governments will be forced to tax the emissions that lead to climate change, further increasing the cost of gas.
In conclusion, the only thing that will make the average American alter their behavior is more financial pain in the form of higher fuel prices.
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