Free market economics is the last, best hope for the environment, according to Walter Block, Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar chair in Economics. He spoke Wednesday night at the Free Market Environmentalism debate co-sponsored by the Economics Club and the Loyola Green Club.

The debate featured Block and John Clark, professor of philosophy and chairperson of the Loyola Environmental studies program, with Block arguing for free-market environmentalism and Clark arguing against it. Block opened the debate by citing a few environmental concerns that he believes could be solved in a free market that “upholds individual property rights.” These three concerns were pollution, waste disposal and overpopulation.

Block advocated courtroom litigation, the privatization of waste disposal and the laws of supply and demand in the marketplace, respectively, as solutions to these problems.

Clark followed with a rebuttal in which he cited Block’s arguments and various writings that Block has published. He also questioned the power of markets to define the total value of a good.

Clark compared the disparity between the recreational and present economic value of wilderness areas and the ecological value that such areas possess as an example of how the market does not always reflect the true value that a resource has for society. The debate was followed by an audience question-and-answer session.

Though both professors claimed to be from the Libertarian tradition, there were several points on which they disagreed, mainly the power of free markets to decide what is valuable to a society and the environment.

Block argued that communal ownership led to overuse of nature’s resources, and private ownership of resources such as endangered species and land was the only way to protect them.

In the conclusion, both professors agreed that the debate was a good idea and that these are issues that need to be addressed.

Clark said that he enjoyed being in an environment where he could discuss libertarianism with like-minded people.

“I thought that it would be a good idea to hear a green anarchist debate these issues with an anarcha-capitalist,” said Rose Fortner, economics senior and president of the Economics club.

“These are really pressing issues in the world today. . . . Dialogue between business interests and environmental interests is a good idea,” said Heather Morgan, environmental studies senior and President of the Green Club.

Both club presidents also expressed a desire to have more debates in the future.

John Clark, Chairman of environmental studies department