For those wanting to do their bit for the environment, these are puzzling times. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, thought he was on safe ground (or at least dry ground for the time being) when he treated the nation to a sermon on the need to be green. Those who ignored the warnings would face “a heavy responsibility before God”, he warned ominously. But the Church of England faces some responsibility itself, being a big shareholder in Exxon, BP and Shell. Similarly, the Prince of Wales is up there with the best when it comes to worrying about global warming. He clocked up more than 9,000 miles and 42 tons of CO2 emissions on his jaunt to India, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

So what does a wannabe green do? The BBC is running a series called It’s Not Easy Being Green, not to be confused with the hit record by Kermit the Frog. This modern version of The Good Life demonstrates that getting back to nature has not got any easier over the past three decades. Should we recycle, as in many cases we are being forced to do by European Union diktat, or are the benefits of recycling offset by the energy used to do it? Toyota Prius drivers cruise around with an air of self-righteousness, blissfully unaware that their vehicles are not the most fuel-efficient on the road. For years, busy mothers using disposable nappies have had pariah status among greens. Now we learn that the traditional variety is no more environmentally friendly.

Last week Margaret Beckett, the environment secretary, admitted that we would miss our targets on CO2 emissions. Many would say that given China’s and India’s impact, any green deal in countries like Britain are not worth the recycled paper they are written on. Greens such as James Lovelock, famous for espousing nuclear power, think we are doomed anyway. That is too gloomy. Humans are resourceful animals. Technology and energy restraint will play their part. And, while it may not be easy being green, at least more are prepared to give it a try.