Smart future cities are investing in tomorrow today

1 October 2015

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is working to unlock key investment opportunities for Smart Future Cities in transport, clean energy and greener buildings.

CEFC CEO Oliver Yates, speaking at today’s Smart Future Cities conference in Newcastle, NSW, said there was significant opportunity to invest in technologies that will help us live, work and play in cleaner, energy efficient, connected and productive cities.

“Australia is one of the world’s most urbanised countries with almost 90 per cent of us living in urban areas. And why not? Australian cities regularly rank among the most liveable in the world,” Mr Yates said. “To keep us at the forefront of liveability, planning and investment is needed now as we transform our cities to a low carbon future.”

Mr Yates said that since its inception, the CEFC had made $1.4 billion of investment commitments towards projects with a total value of more than $3.5 billion.

“Australian cities can benefit from a broad range of clean energy technologies, such as LED street lighting, solar PV and battery storage, smarter energy management, waste-to-energy plants and cleaner cars,” Mr Yates said.

“The CEFC’s investment in these areas is helping generate cleaner power, accelerate the take up of energy efficient technologies and cut energy costs for businesses, local governments and households.

“We’re providing finance for better buildings, cleaner energy, more efficient vehicles and energy productivity for businesses across the country.”

Mr Yates said global research showed investing in public and low emission transport, building efficiency and waste management in cities could generate worldwide savings of more than $AUD24 trillion ($US17 trillion) by 2050.

“This represents a great opportunity for Australian cities and the CEFC is working to help unlock investment opportunities for smart future cities, in transport, clean energy and greener buildings,” Mr Yates said.

The Smart Future Cities 2015 conference and exhibition in Newcastle from 1-2 October, is the first of its kind to be held in Australia. It is an initiative of the Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment at the University of Newcastle, in partnership with the Regional Clean Energy Program of NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and The City of Newcastle.

Mr Yates is a keynote speaker at the event on Thursday, 1 October. CEFC Chief Operating Officer Meg McDonald will also speak on Thursday, on Financing a Smart Future City.

For more information about the conference see www.smartfuturecities.com.au