Gore and others involvement was to move relatively stagnant policy change to meet needed environmental change with an emphasis on climate change. Carter had in place many policy changes that would have led to real progress but they were largely reversed by Reagan much as Trump is attempting to undo policies of Obama.
The failure to follow Carter’s policy had negative environmental impacts as well as negative economic impacts for the country. Scientists had attempted to move policy but Gore’s publicity raised public awareness to a point where it might be possible to change policy. People like Gore or Rachael Carson are then attacked in an attempt to negate the policy changes they are supporting.