CNN's Innovative Cities explores how new technology is keeping Singapore's taps from running dry

HONG KONG,Sept. 6,2019 -- More than half of the world's population currently lives in urban areas. But as the planet's major cities become denser and more populated,the supply of natural resources is being stretched to the limit. From the air we breathe,to the water we drink and the food we eat,the demand for these basic necessities shows no sign of slowing down. This month,CNN's 'Innovative Cities' explores how innovative new technology is giving new life to these daily essentials.

Innovative Cities

Highlights of the 30-minute special include:

Fixing Singapore's water shortage with tech

Singapore may import half of its water supply,but the city-state already has its pulse on a new wave of water technology. Home-grown companies are not only developing solutions to keep Singapore's taps running,they're also taking this technology to the world. This includes Eco-Worth,which offers bio-tech solutions to water contamination,and WateRoam,which has designed a portable device that provides clean water to thousands across the Southeast Asia region.

Big data cleaning up London's skies

Air pollution has been linked to over 7 million premature deaths worldwide per year. Green Tomato Cars,London's first and largest low-to-zero emission taxi service,has taken to the city streets with 50 hydrogen-powered cars. Instead of emitting harmful chemicals as traditional vehicles do,these cars simply produce harmless water emissions. Meanwhile,Breathe London,the world's largest air quality monitoring network,has partnered with tech giant Google to collect big data that can help Londoners visualize the impact of air pollution and the solutions.

Silicon Valley's next big thing: Lab-made meat

Raising animals for food is one of the biggest factors affecting climate change and world pollution,according to the UN. But in San Francisco,innovators are using new technology to combat this growing problem. Start-ups such as JUST and New Age Meats have developed a cell-based meat product that tastes and looks like chicken or porkbut,they claim,without any of the harmful farming processes. Instead,they use biopsies to take healthy cells from live chickens or pigs,and then nurture these cells to grow them into meat products in a lab.

'Innovative Cities' trailer: https://cnn.it/2ZMBEwN

'Innovative Cities' images: https://bit.ly/2kiPOHj

'Innovative Cities' microsite: https://cnn.it/2CLvvYY

Airtimes for 30-minute special:

Saturday,7th September at 2030 HKT

Sunday,8th September at 0030 HKT,0430 HKT and 1030 HKT

Monday,9th September at 0830 HKT

Wednesday,11th September 0030 HKT

About CNN International

CNN's portfolio of news and information services is available in seven different languages across all major TV,digital and mobile platforms reaching more than 475 million households around the globe. CNN International is the number one international TV news channel according to all major media surveys across Europe,the Middle East and Africa,the Asia Pacific region and Latin America and has a US presence which includes CNNgo. CNN Digital is a leading network for online news,mobile news and social media. CNN is at the forefront of digital innovation and continues to invest heavily in expanding its digital global footprint,with a suite of award-winning digital properties and a range of strategic content partnerships,commercialised through a strong data-driven understanding of audience behaviours. Over the years CNN has won multiple prestigious awards around the world for its journalism. Around 1,000 hours of long-form series,documentaries and specials are produced every year by CNNI's non-news programming division. CNN has 36 editorial offices and more than 1,100 affiliates worldwide through CNN Newsource. CNN International is part of Turner,a WarnerMedia company.

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