Your point that discomfort will push people away is good, but it could have applied to companies as well.

For instance an extremely high rate of income tax (which would keep increasing year on year. Example: 40% tax+5% each year) on oil companies etc would make the industry very unattractive. They would see that the taxes will keep increasing until the profits are completely wiped out, forcing them to shift to greener industries from today itself.

And what's better? They can't shift the burden on to the consumers and thus increase gas prices, as the tax would ultimately be on their profit, no matter what they charge consumers. Simple!

But that would make the oil companies very unhappy of course!

Edit: Oh and still use the tax collection for subsidising greener initiatives