Air quality, polluted oceans and energy production: these are just some of the environmental issues blighting our planet today. Who has the answers? What has been proven to work?
Each month, CNN’s new TV and digital series Eco Solutions will tell the stories of people around the world creating innovative solutions to preserve the planet.
Hosted by CNN International correspondent and anchor, Isa Soares, the 15-minute show will take viewers from the cities improving the air they breathe to the countries running on renewable energy.
“CNN’s Eco Solutions reaffirms our on-going commitment to shining a light on the environmental issues impacting the planet,” said Ellana Lee, senior vice president and managing editor, CNN International. “We will not only be providing our global audiences a unique insight into environmental challenges, but also highlight the innovative solutions being developed by communities and advocates working to preserve the ecology.”
In the first episode, Eco Solutions examines innovations in combatting air pollution in Tezpur, a small city in the Indian state of Assam.
Air pollution has been called a silent killer, with the World Health Organization estimating that it is responsible for up to seven million premature deaths every year.
According to recent findings presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, conditions caused by air pollution killed 1.4 million people in India in 2013. As the shift of people from rural to urban areas inevitably continues, keeping our cities’ air clean is one of our biggest challenges.
India has some of the most polluted cities in the world, yet in the tea region of Assam measured improvement is taking place.
Eco Solutions visits the small city of Tezpur, which has moved heavy vehicles out of the center, and replaced local coal-powered tea plantation industries with LPG.
Eco Solutions also looks at small projects underway in the large city of London to see how seemingly minor measures are also having some success in reducing harmful pollutants.
The program airs on CNN International today at 5:30 p.m. and at 1:30 p.m. on July 30.
For other times, please refer to CNN International.