AU: New South Wale: Eeek! Sydney has slipped in the rankings of the world’s smartest cities for 2024
The Harbour City missed out on making it into the top twenty in the 2024 Smart City Index
Think your scorecard at trivia is rapidly declining? You might not be wrong – with the 2024 Smart Cities Index revealing that Sydney’s smart status is on a downhill trajectory. The annual study has released its list of the smartest cities for 2024, and this year, the Harbour City didn’t even make the top twenty – dropping from 18th smartest city in the world in 2023 to the 22nd smartest in 2024.
Our nation’s capital, Canberra, just clinched the third spot in the global ranking, holding its ground against 141 other contenders. Bravo, to the 'Berra! But what does it mean for Sydneysiders?
Only one Australian city has been named among the world's 'smartest cities' based on green spaces and technological advancements.
We hate to break it to you but while Sydney and Melbourne were arguing over who has the better coffee, Canberra was officially named one of the ‘smartest’ cities in the world. The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has recently released its Smart Cities Index studying 142 cities around the world on factors such as economic and technological advancements and sustainability with Zurich topping the list for the fifth year running. It was followed by Oslo in Norway at number 2 and Canberra in the third spot making it the only Aussie city in the top 20.
Read more: The Australian City Canberra Was Just Named The Third Smartest In The World
While smart cities are providing technological innovations for both people and the environment, some residents are being left in the dark, writes Cate Altamura.
Not everyone has heard the buzzword “smart city”, however, the term has been gaining momentum. Some may see it as a Utopian way to live whereas others may see it as Big Brother.
The Australian city’s draft budget puts forward proposals to futher green the city, including nine new parks and open spaces and expansion of its tree canopy.
The City of Melbourne will begin or progress work on nine new parks and open spaces across the municipality, through a proposed $29.5m investment in open space in the draft budget 2024-25.
Read more: AU: Victoria: Melbourne transforms city from “grey to green”
Australian government officials have played down the prospect of confusion with both the commonwealth and some states creating different digital ID systems.
They have also responded to concern the new digital ID system will be too complex for the elderly, those with disabilities and indigenous and remote communities.
Read more: Australian Digital ID Plans Firm But The System Will Confuse Some