Mayors and other representatives from some of the world’s biggest and most rapidly growing cities have been meeting at United Nations Headquarters in New York over the past two days to examine how they can harness innovative forms of technology to overcome the environmental problems caused by the relentless expansion of urban areas.

Participants at this week’s conference, entitled “Sustainable Urbanization in the Information Age,” have been discussing practical solutions for improving living conditions – such as by reducing traffic congestion, pollution and crimes – while preventing social and economic inequity and exclusion.