I don't think the article is suggesting that. What I read was that the "misdirection" about individual impact on these environmental issues is taking focus away

I don't think the article is suggesting that. What I read was that the "misdirection" about individual impact on these environmental issues is taking focus away from much larger scale issues that are not being addressed (as a result of the misdirection). The author I think implies that environmental challenges seem to be of a "defeat Hitler" magnitude...and that to face the challenge we need to make sure we're fighting on the right front.