In the begining the enviromental movement (from which much of the sustainability movement came) was seen as a fringe ideology. It became increasingly mainstream over the next few decade but as it did so it became for some right wing politicians a convenient scapegoat.
During the 1992 presidential campaign, George H. W. Bush mockingly dubbed Al Gore "ozone man" and said, "This guy is so far out in the environmental extreme, we'll be up to our necks in owls and outta work for every American."
In 2007 his son toured a hybrid car factory. [1]