Yes, but this neatly ignores the reason this can't work: to WHOM does it cost more? The polluters make money now. I bet many are even planning how they'll make

Yes, but this neatly ignores the reason this can't work: to WHOM does it cost more? The polluters make money now. I bet many are even planning how they'll make money from the damage they're causing. Later costs borne by governments of the world are a potential benefit, not any sort of disincentive at all. So long as politicians are bought and sold, and so long as capitalism is allowed to run full speed ahead with no regulation, the whole planet will be victim to today's greediness.