Thinking that cost just means paying more -> bad is a very simplistic way to look at things.

Cost, especially via taxation, means setting aside a part of our productivity as a planet towards making sure we don't destroy ourselves. Everybody should contribute because everyone has skin in the game. By taxing CO2 specifically, you force people towards choosing more sustainable choices automatically.

Understand that you can't have a completely free market and an environment in which you want to live.

The environment you are proposing is unlivable. When you are living on less than $2 a day, things costing more is a matter of life and death.

Your fellow humans need more sources of reliable energy, not less.