Starting off the year with good news

Last year marked the first in which renewables surpassed coal as Germany's main energy source. They accounted for more than 40 percent of the country's 2018 electricity production. The nation plans to increase that share to 65 percent in 2030.

South Korea is the most recent nation to join a growing list of countries (including China, France, Kenya and Australia) ruling out single-use plastic bags. Supermarkets there are now banned from using them, and violation of the new regulations will result in fines.

Norway, which is home to Europe's 2019 eco capital, Oslo, has recorded an increase in e-car sales. A third of new cars registered in the country last year were electric. Tax exemptions and free parking are believed to be fueling the growing popularity of such vehicles.

European environment ministers have proposed a series of rules to force manufacturers to make goods that are easier to fix and that last longer. In the US, 18 states are considering similar laws to tackle the planned obsolescence that many companies build into their products.

News that no North Atlantic right whales were killed in Canadian waters in 2018 was welcomed by those working to protect the endangered species. The previous year, in which 12 of the marine animals were slaughtered, was the deadliest ever recorded for the species. Today, their population hovers around 400.

As of the first of the year, plastic-foam products such as cups, packing peanuts, and food containers are banned in New York City. From July 1, anyone flouting the new regulations, which were originally proposed in 2013, will face a fine.