[ceejayoz]

That's more perks than the job Constitutionally awards. It was created as a powerless placeholder role.

[lapcat]

You're missing the point, which is that by all accounts, Al Gore was a close advisor to Bill Clinton.

[ceejayoz]

And by all accounts, he pushed for action on climate change.

As it turns out, close advisors still don't get to set policy.

[lapcat]

Another interpretation is that Gore engaged primarily in symbolism.

The Kyoto Protocol itself was primarily symbolic, with little or no enforcement mechanism.