The oligarchs know full well what’s happening, course. Before their strategy was in buying the narrative - e.g. scientists don’t all agree on this (cos we funded and amplified two crackpots), or “we’re actually still in an Ice Age”, or “how to reduce your personal carbon footprint” - but they also know there’s going to be a tremendous amount of anger and upheaval when critical systems of human society start to break down and they don’t want any of that righteous ire directed at themselves.