This study was a collective effort by several people. The contributors to this volume –from the World Resources Institute (WRI) and from partner organizations —devoted considerable time and energy to the study. They brought not only commitment to and ideas for a strong final product, but also belief in the need for a more sustainable global electricity future. I have been privileged for the opportunity to work with them.

Within WRI, my colleagues in the International Financial Flows and the Environment (IFFE) project, Frances Seymour and Crescencia Maurer, provided core intellectual input and support in conceptualizing and implementing this study, in addition to contributing chapters to the volume. Two additional colleagues in the IFFE project, first Lily Donge, and then Linda Shaffer Bollert, managed the research and production process, while also providing research assistance. Without their work, this document would not have been completed. I deeply appreciate their efforts.

Several other colleagues contributed their time and effort in completing this study. WRI colleagues Crescencia Maurer, Lily Donge and John Coyle, with assistance from Gretchen Hoff, Fritz Kahrl, and Mehr Latif compiled the text boxes on country cases. Yu-Mi Mun from the University of Delaware contributed a box on South Korea. Mara Angeloni, a visiting fellow from the Italian Ministry of Environment and Territory, and Amy Cassara compiled and analyzed data on pollutant emissions. Kate Ling and Ken Ogino assisted with research, production and outreach during their summer internships at WRI.

This study draws on reflection and input of many people from governments, donor agencies, civil society organizations and industry. I thank our sources who generously contributed their time and knowledge during interviews and in correspondence. Additional thanks to colleagues who participated in a workshop held at WRI in October 2000 to review preliminary papers.

The quality of this work has benefited considerably from experts who reviewed the entire manuscript: Sanjeev Ahluwalia, William Ascher, Walt Patterson, and Ian Tellum. In addition, I appreciate detailed review of portions of the report by: Armarquay Armar, Daniel Azpiazu, John Besant-Jones, Abeeku Brew-Hammond, Istvan Dobozi, Elsa du Toit, Michael Eckhardt, Paul Galen, Rumen Gechev, David Hawes, Gilberto Januzzi, Appiah Korang, Jaime Millan, Lulin Radulov, Amulya K.N. Reddy, Martín Rodríguez Pardina, Anil Terway, Nurina Widagdo, and Harald Winkler. In addition, I thank WRI colleagues who reviewed an early draft of the volume: Elizabeth Cook, Paul Faeth, Nancy Kete, Wendy Vanasselt, and Patricia Zurita. The reviewers comments and suggestions have considerably strengthened the report. The authors retain full responsibility for any remaining errors of fact or interpretation.

Hyacinth Billings, Robert Livernash, and Maggie Powell worked rapidly and diligently to edit, produce, and publish the report. Johnathan Kool produced graphics for the report. I thank them and additional members of WRI ’s communications staff for their assistance with this publication.

This study, and the work of the International Financial Flows and the Environment project, is made possible by grants from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Wallace Global Fund, the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Foundation, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. I am grateful to them for their support.