Love him or hate him, he has devoted his entire adult life to the study of global climate change. That in itself deserves some kudos, it's that kind of perserverence that takes alot of cajones to have...especially when others were calling him a madman in the very beginning.
It was because of him and others like him who made it part of the world conscience to be mindful of how we treat the environment. To not take everything for granted. That is definitely not a bad mindset at all.