Since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed in 1992, electric power sector activities that could impact the climate—including those cost-effective actions using the most efficient, or "best," practices—have drawn increasing attention. While many of these best practices are now under consideration in developing countries, there is not a widespread appreciation of their positive impact on greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Energy Association authorized the compilation of a Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation Options for Developing Country Utilities and Regulatory Agencies to increase awareness of the climate mitigation benefits from each practice among utility personnel and regulators in developing countries. The information compiled is now available in print, on CD-rom and on this Web site.

Climate change actions are grouped into 11 best practice areas. Click on the links below to view the chapters of your interest. This site offers the Handbook in Web format, for easy browsing, and PDF format, for easy printing. (Note: Adobe Reader is required for PDF downloads and is available at the Adobe site.)

For each of 70 best practices, the Handbook:

• indicates the climate change impact—including whether each action reduces, avoids or offsets the emission of greenhouse gases—and where available, quantifies the potential reductions in carbon, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide,
• describes the action and issues associated with its implementation,
• identifies resources and contacts for further information.

The Handbook uses the best currently-available information. This information is also summarized in charts for easier comparison.

Many of the best practices discussed in this Handbook are promoted by and facilitated under the Energy Partnership Program, funded by USAID and executed by USEA. The Energy Partnership Program is helping to improve the performance of utilities and regulatory agencies in developing countries through the distribution of technical information and executive exchanges of senior personnel between U.S. utilities and state regulatory agencies with their developing country counterparts.