I’m not a psychiatrist, but think Al went completely off the rails after the 2000 election, causing his weird climate ‘retribution’. Sounds like he’s had yet another break with reality.
Oh, that's a given. That's why his rich friends arranged for him to have a "hit movie" and "win" a Nobel. I think in their own way they were trying to help him. Of course, they pretty much completely distanced themselves after the "Release my Chakra!" incident.