It's a classic "free rider" problem. For each of us, individually, the reward of self indulgence outweighs the reward of personal forebearance. But, for all of us collectively, the reward of forebearance outweighs the reward of self indulgence. It's essentially the "Prisoner's Dilemma" in game theory. If I "cheat," I come out ahead. If I don't, I just invite you to use up my share of the Earth's ecological carrying capacity, along with your own. That's why it's a perfect candidate for government to impose a solution on everyone, rather than to stand aside and hope we do the right thing on an individual basis. If Gore opposes government action, then his personal lack of self control is particularly hypocritical, but if he spots the need to have the rules imposed by a collective power, then his action is more forgiveable.