It does not come for free. If China can at the same time use cheaper cost of production to compete against countries that have to increase their cost then other countries will loose. In both scenario everybody loses in the end but in the first scenario China will come out on top until then. The only winnable long term strategy is when China will play along all the time.
America with more stringent environmental laws will do more to combat carbon emissions, and manufacturing will move overseas. China makes more carbon. Is this your win?
Let me repeat the main point. If China does not participate then everyone is doomed. If China does not participate then everyone else who will participate will start suffering right now and will be still doomed while China will stay on top until the end. Doing something while China does not participate is meaningless self delusion.