Frassoni's "gas-guzzler" dilemma

An ecological dilemma for Monica Frassoni, co-leader of the Green MEPs. Her old Alfa Romeo 156 car, a cast-off from her brother, has been proving a little temperamental. Its carbon doxide (CO2) emissions are hardly a model of green behaviour – 195–205 grams of CO2 per kilometre. Indeed some of her colleagues have referred to it with that well-worn epithet “gas-guzzler”. So should she replace the car with a newer model, one with lower emissions, perhaps a hybrid? Or should she put up with the criticism, arguing that the environmentally damaging effects of making a car are so great as to justify keeping the old one? Frassoni has opted for the later course, at least until her car breaks down again. So please don't think she's not green: it's just that being green isn't easy.