Former Vice President Al Gore must have had some depressing days after losing the 2000 presidential election in a scandalous recount of the Florida votes.

History says he probably would have been the better candidate for president, but he still found a way to serve not only his country, but the world.

The Bush administration poked jokes at Mr. Gore, even insinuating the former Tennessee senator might be a bit loony over his fascination with global warming.

The former vice president last week shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for his work on global warming.

The Nobel Prize is the highest recognition for service to mankind.

People who haven’t seen Mr. Gore’s documentary film on global warming, “An Inconvenient Truth,” should do so. It is a compelling work that will raise concern about our environment in everyone who isn’t a fatalist.

“His strong commitment, reflected in political activity, lectures, films and books, has strengthened the struggle against climate change,” the Nobel citation said.

“He is probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted,” the citation concluded.

We here in the Tennessee Valley know of the climate changes and how those changes impact our lives. It may be that man can’t stop what is happening, but with the proper leadership we certainly can try.

That is Mr. Gore’s mission. Perhaps even the White House will listen now.

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