In economics there is a wide consensus that the free market is a lousy guide when it comes to incorporating externalities like accelerating climate change causing millions of unnecessary deaths vs perceived need to drive around in gas guzzlers.
Taxes and cap-and-trade systems are indeed the mechanisms of how current international agreements try to attempt CO2 emissions, they're a fine way to implement it.
It was my understanding that by driving around in a gas guzzler, I am precipitating human extinction, bringing forward the long-awaited day when the ecology of Earth no longer includes humans, which will be “better”.
