I don't know if you've ever watched the TV show The Good Place, but there's an episode that deals with similar questions to the ones you bring up here. Basically, there's a character with good intentions, who's trying desperately to do the right thing, but his choices have many unintended and unforeseen consequences. I guess at the end of the day, all we can do is follow the current guidelines and hope for the best.

As far as the car question, I used to have a hybrid, which I liked a lot. Now I don't own a car at all, which I like even better. Of course, I realize that this isn't a practical or feasible choice for everyone. Hopefully you'll be able to find a good option soon - buying a used electric sounds like it might be best (as long as it's still covered by the warranty and the battery hasn't degraded), at least at face value!