As far as CO2 emissions, the EPA's own statistics suggest a static-to-downward trend since the early 2000s in the U.S. (http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2.html). We're barely above where we were in 1990, despite an increase in population from 250 million in 1990 to 319 million today. 3rd World economies will eventually follow suit, as they adopt the cheap new green tech that we're getting.
The trend today is toward more efficient vehicles, cheaper and more available solar for houses, a massive switch in electric power plants from coal and oil to inexpensive natural gas which emits less carbon.
Technology, Chinese mass production of green energy products like solar panels, American fracking of natural gas, all will conspire to reduce the carbon emissions. The trends are heartening.
it's not just "the economy", it is (people) * (polluting affluent lifestyles). that said, it doesn't help that the people with the bulk of the wealth and political power are the ones that perceive they have the most to lose if the status quo changes.
it also doesn't help that it is very difficult to stay focused on longer-term problems, while society tends to focus on playing the game for short term wins. invest, speculate, profit.
it'll be an interesting few decades. hopefully we realise that ideas that served us well in the past are context-dependent, and the context is changing.
Wait, there were some huge bird-like animals here 60 million years ago.