Comparing Environmental Solutions: Clinton vs. McCain

McCain's platform is significantly different than Clinton's platform for environmental change.

I would say that John McCain could be classified as a market liberal.  I say this because his platform seems to be focused on the importance of economic growth and high per capita incomes.  He discusses the responsibility that he believes America has for changing the environmental situation.  He makes the connection, that he thinks is undeniably there, America's economic interests and its environmental interests.  He strongly believes that ignoring the problem is what will lead this country to its destruction.  Market liberals operate on the main fact that the higher incomes, due to economic growth, which in turn "generates the funds and political will" to drive environmental change that will benefit the rest of the world.  He mentions that he believes that even though rich countries like America will become richer, but the poor countries will become richer as well.  This way all benefit.

I would classify Hilary Clinton as an institutionalist.  I say this because she outlines in her plan for environmental change the changes she would make in order to make the United States sustainable in its resources.  Clinton hopes to make us independent when it comes to resources such as oil and hopes to make energy emissions significantly less.  She also expresses her interest in gaining or putting forth more federal investment for basic energy research and aggressive action to transition the economy toward renewable energy sources.  Institutionalists, like market liberals share an interest in the economy and the connection that it has with the environment and environmental change.  Also they believe that a lack of global cooperation as a key source of environmental destruction.  The fact that sovereign states exist rather than a one state world, contributes to the fact that there is a lack of international cooperation.  Clinton wants America to rely less on others for resources and to become sustainable and independent in our sources.  Furthermore, Clinton offers suggestions for new institutions that can aid in these changes that she would like to make to improve the environmental situation.

The categories introduced by Clapp and Dauvergne have made it easier to differentiate between the two candidates.  Though there are similarities between the two, and there is a fine line between market liberals and institutionalists.  I think that Clinton's proposal for a better environment makes more sense than McCain's small attempt, merely to address the problem of the environment.  I think that Clinton's Institutionalist approach is and will be effective in making changes in the environment.  Clinton actually outlines real solutions to the problem, whereas McCain merely discusses the problem itself and how America should deal with its own economy.