As we frantically search for solutions to help Ireland come anywhere close to meeting its climate change targets by 2030, the Government, airline companies and the tourism sector among others must be relieved that we have so many farmers on the island. Because it is those farmers, dairy and beef producers in particular, who are taking one for the team as we languish as the laggards of Europe regarding climate change mitigation.

Irish farming in the round, including all of those small less-intensive custodians of the countryside nurturing biodiversity in their hedgerows more than any of us smug urbanites could ever wish for, have become very handy faces on the climate emergency “wanted” posters.

While agriculture accounts for one third of our greenhouse gas emissions and must play the biggest role in reducing the national carbon footprint, you can appreciate how frustrating it must be for farmers to hear the populist narrative that we are cutting back on our meat and dairy intake and feeling good about it while at the same time spending less of our disposable income than ever on food. Talk about counter-intuitive behaviour.

I bet you a pound to a penny that if you ask most young people how they are going about reducing their carbon footprint, the most common refrain will relate to their diet and not their summer holiday plans

We are building a new runway at Dublin airport, we want free public transport before we abandon our cars and Fáilte Ireland continues to go about its legitimate business of incentivising more international tourists into Ireland by plane year-on-year, yet I bet you a pound to a penny that if you ask most young people how they are going about reducing their carbon footprint, the most common refrain will relate to their diet and not their summer holiday plans.

Whatever about cutting back on milk and beef, what about, perish the thought, paying more for our food and buying local in-season produce?

And that is fine and well. But surely a sense of balance is required here. While the rest of us Johnny-come-lately climate experts are shouting at farmers to sell their cattle and grow kale instead, airline companies continue to build passenger numbers and we continue to help the multiple low-cost retailers increase their share of the market in the race to the bottom to attract footfall.

Whatever about cutting back on milk and beef, what about, perish the thought, paying more for our food and buying local in-season produce?

If we are going to cut back on eating red meat and drinking milk, then why shouldn’t we pay more for such staples? There may be a touch of the law of diminishing returns about the argument, but if we want farmers to reduce livestock production to help save the planet, surely there is a moral obligation on us to share the burden by paying more for their reduced output. I’d prefer to pay more for my litre of milk than the equivalent in EU fines via my taxes. It might teach us also to respect food more and reduce waste.

There was a time we paid the farmer a fair price for their work. We don’t anymore

And also if you are going to declare a new flexitarian diet, then at least don’t be a hypocrite; make sure that the plant-based alternative is locally sourced and not processed with ingredients from all over the world.

There was a time we paid the farmer a fair price for their work. We don’t anymore. Instead we endure happy clappy expensive TV ads from discounters telling us how silly we are to be spending so much on our weekly shop compared to what they have to offer. Can’t you see the irony? No point in complaining about the agricultural footprint while we look at price over provenance. Is it any wonder farmers have had no choice but to ramp up production to hold 1980s prices? Touché.

We’ll take the lot

I’m following one of those football sites with all the “gossip” on possible summer signings. So far, Manchester United has been linked to roughly 2,651 players.