Finethen

The world is five per cent greener now than it was two decades ago, according to a study by Nasa.

The US space agency claims that leaf cover on Earth has increased by two million square miles since the early 2000s.

The plan, proposed over a year ago by governor Andrew Cuomo, follows the example of California, which banned bags in 2016.

Hawaii also effectively has a ban in place, as all of the state’s counties bar such single-use bags.

A living member of a species of tortoise not seen since 1906 – and feared extinct – was discovered in a remote part of the Galápagos island of Fernandina.

The discovery of tracks and faeces lead investigators to think there may be more members of the species on the island.

After a grassroots campaign calling for drastic changes in farming practices proved incredibly popular, Bavaria.

Rather than putting the petition to a referendum, Bavaria’s state premier, Markus Söder, announced it would simply be written into law, passing directly through parliament.

Once-endangered otters, polecats and pine martens have staged a remarkable comeback in Britain since the 1960s, a study released in February showed.

Each has bounced back from near extinction, meaning the only carnivorous mammal that remains in danger of being wiped out in Britain is the Scottish wildcat.