A price on carbon isn’t the only way to address the problem of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to address the problem of climate change but it is, in many ways, the most conservative and fiscally responsible one. Sure, you could give everyone a free electric vehicle and block up half their windows. A government could also pass a lot complicated, expensive-to-enforce regulations regarding emissions or even criminalize behaviours like driving your SUV to work every day, alone, even though you are blessed to live on a subway line.
On the other hand, they could leave all of those choices, the ones in your home and in your business, up to you, but ensure that, ultimately, while protecting industries and people during the transition phase, you pay for what they use. That’s what a properly implemented price on carbon does.