This is the argument I always use when people talk about excessive regulation damaging economies. Companies care about 1 thing and 1 thing only. Profit. And that's OK. It's understandable. Regulation is there to ensure that in the process of doing whatever it is they are good at, they don't mess anything else up, be it economically, socially or environmentally. Companies rally against this of course, and that's why the lobbying system in America is so disastrous. But you also see it in the Media. PR campaigns by big businesses to change public perception about something. Because Oil companies have stacks of money, they are especially good at this.
Expecting Companies to undertake their businesses ethically, or altruistically is folly, always has been. But again, that's OK as long as you keep in mind their motivations and flaws. That's why I always say that change has to be led by governments, not by us as citizens. We are far too susceptible to clever ad campaigns by lobbying business.
Shell. Do they really think that because they built a few windfarms and put a few ads on that they have turned another leaf and are now conscious of the damage they've done, or rather that they care? No. It's clearly them realising that there is no economic future in fossil fuels. That's what governments can do. Put economic pressure on these big, dumb, but entirely predictable beasts.
On your other point, scientists, including those employed by the government absolutely commissioned studies on this during the 80's. The IPCC was formed in 1988. There just has not been any political capital to do anything about it until recently.
BUT it is the government's responsibility not only to enact the will of the people, but also to protect the people from themselves. Climate change frequently falls under the latter.