He had two options. Take his own global-warming platform seriously by encouraging all countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as expeditiously as they can? Or work a nonsensical wealth-based double standard in there to thrill and delight “the international community”?

Environmentalist or leftist? Choices, choices.

Emerging economies such as China are justified in holding back on fighting greenhouse gas emissions until richer polluters like the United States do more to solve the problem, former Vice President Al Gore said Wednesday…

Chinese officials said they would act after industrial countries such as the United States and others make changes themselves, Gore said, addressing a conference in Madrid on global warming.

“They’re right in saying that. But we have to act quickly,” said Gore, who was nominated last week for a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in drawing attention to global warming.

“China’s reaction to the scientific report last week was disappointing, but it was instructive,” Gore said.

Exit question: Does this class-based exception to the scourge of glacier-melting help or hinder his Nobel chances?

Update: Here’s a little more good PR for the Gorebot, who’s making friends in all the right places.