We(as humanity) has done this several times in the past. If there is an alternative we could regulate our way out of not harming ourselves. It sure takes time but it has happened in the past. Cue. Asbestos, use of Lead pipes, use of CFCs, now ongoing reduction of single use plastics.
Except it already has. Car emissions regulations are a good example. Not just regulations on manufacturers either. Look at London's ultra low emissions zones quickly pushing folks to go electric.
Would be nice if instead of using car emissions as a boogeyman they focused on the cargo shipping industry who burn metric fuck tons of bunker oil instead of using alternative fuels. Instead you just get taxes in the guise of 'fixing the environment' by penalizing the working class who in reality contribute very little to co2 and nox emissions.
Why would you oppose technological solutions in favor of ideological ones? Unless of course you don't care about solving the problem...