Del,
In our family we try to be as environmentally sensitive as possible, I'm proud to say we recycle more than we send to landfill that we have made many environmentally beneficial improvements to the house we have over the last two years.
Your assertion that people don't look at the bigger picture when using a small car is wrong. For many are forced into a small car because the Buses and trains in this country are very expensive.
Only last weekend I reached the conclusion that my next car will probably be a super mini type of vehicle. Because it will cost less to purchase, tax, insure, fuel and maintain than my family saloon.
We will continue to run a larger car purely because of our caravan and it's useful for carrying the odd larger things but its use is limited.
With the reduction of council tax in certain areas for those will to make sustainable environmental improvements to their house it will ultimately be polluter pays!"
Regards Monkeys Husband