Edinburgh is to host a major conference that will harness financial innovation to fund the creation of major green infrastructure projects and support global climate change goals. 

First Minister Alex Salmond has revealed details of the international conference which will be held in autumn and will bring together the financial services and energy industries to develop innovative financing solutions for energy efficiency, heat, transport and low carbon electricity and infrastructure projects.

The conference will capitalise on Scotland's enormous low carbon and green energy potential by showcasing projects in the public and private sector to international investors, while focusing on developing innovative funding solutions to deliver them.

It will be organised by the Scottish Low Carbon Investment Project (SLIP) - a new joint initiative between the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Arup - which will run over six months from March. SLIP is closely supported by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and other organisations to engage across the Scottish business and low carbon sectors, and to develop links with the wider international investment community in the run up to the conference.

Director of Energy and Low Carbon Technologies at Scottish Enterprise, Adrian Gillespie, said:

"New investment is vital to Scotland's future as a global hub of renewable energy. The Scottish Low Carbon Investment Project will establish valuable investment opportunities in Scotland as well as identifying and attracting Scottish and international investors.

"The scale of opportunity is vast as is the scale of investment required, so public and private partners must work together speedily to maximise the economic benefits for Scotland. The development of this joint initiative will further establish Scotland as an international role model in renewable energy and a centre of low carbon investment opportunities."

Read more from the Scottish Government.

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