Denial is a powerful tool but thermodynamics is more powerful and human hubris is boundless.

NYC and LV might seem like the fossil-fuel churning centers of the Universe that will burn carbon forever to you but the reality is they are borrowing energy from the future and partying on their children's dime.

If you want to see what is going on in IRL as you would put, it please visit Lagos, Kinshasha, Mumbai, Alexandria township, Toomsboro GA or Campton NJ and see how stocked their shelves and how reliable their energy sources are, and see if they have libraries or time to visit those non-existent libraries.

And NO, they do not really WANT to live like that. They do because we in the "civilized" West have stolen all their resources, (including their people) and still do. Alluding to their "lack" of desire for your definition of "civilization" is way too close to institutional racism for my liking.

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2019/09/18/Climate-Crisis-Wipe-Out/