This program is intended to assist countries to promote sector reform, establish free market policies, institute energy standards, and strengthen energy and environmental institutions that enable energy sector development and private sector participation in the sector. The program will provide training and technical assistance for legal and regulatory reform and institutional development, and enable private investment in the energy sector. A key element will be improving the livability of cities, where the bulk of the earth's population will reside in the 21st century. In addition, the number of partnerships between U.S. and host country businesses in cleaner energy technologies is expected to increase from six in FY 1999 to 12 in FY 2001, thereby significantly enhancing sustainable energy technology transfer between U.S. utilities and regulatory agencies and their developing country counterparts. Reduced threat to sustainable development from global climate change.
Climate change poses profound global economic, environmental and social challenges.
Developing and transition countries have little inherent flexibility in economic, environmental and social systems, and require assistance to respond to the threats posed by climate change. FY 1999 was the first year of funding for this objective. Building from baseline data collected in FY 1998, central programs played a significant leadership role in achieving climate results. Efforts to protect and conserve forest lands in Indonesia containing important carbon stocks, involved outreach and training that engaged over 50 communities in forest mapping, and improved their understanding of conservation practices and of legal protections for forests. In addition, central programs supported a Country Studies Program workshop in Central America in April 1998, as well as four other training events.