Not necessarily. You can treat it as various levels of blindness to facts, subsequent delusion, and resulting perversion. In this regard, self-realization provides a pretty solid reference point for how to measure it. It also pretty much implies what to do about the issue and "handle" even the individuals who are more extreme (from ourselves).

As for energy -- I saw nuclear mentioned in the comments. IMO it's the least destructive short term strategy we have available, despite its externalities. I would also mention hydro. That could offset the time needed for research, etc. In any case, and if anything, wind and solar *are* short term solution too (and also have their own, pretty destructive, externalities).