Both presidential candidates support the need to curb greenhouse gases believed to cause global warming, but there are key differences in how they would implement what will eventually be a significant overhaul of the country’s energy infrastructure.

First and foremost, the candidates agree on a market-based cap-and-trade program that will establish a price for carbon dioxide emissions that tightens over time, providing an incentive for businesses to develop cleaner energy technology.

The similarity, however, pretty much ends there, as Senators John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, and Barack Obama, the soon-to-be nominated Democratic candidate at the party's convention this week, differ on how aggressively to pursue this environmental goal and on exactly how to fund the transition.

More specifically, they differ on whether to make businesses pay for carbon pollution permits over a certain limit — some of which they would get back in government support to adopt cleaner technology — or give them a free ride initially, with sanctions pushed into the future.

More Top Stories

I Want Greece to Stay in the Euro: Merkel to CNBC

As One JPMorgan Trader Sold Risky Contracts, Another One Bought Them

Survey Predicts a Summer Job Boost is Coming

What Happens When Greece's Money Runs Out?

Forget a 'Grexit.' Watch for a 'Grashall Plan': Analyst

More Top Stories