US Department of Energy adds word “climate” to “words to avoid” list

(MENAFN) The US Department of Energy has revised its internal guidance to advise staff to avoid using terms such as “climate change,” “green,” and “decarbonization,” according to reports.

Rachel Overbey, acting director of external affairs, instructed employees to “continue to be conscientious about avoiding any terminology that you know to be misaligned with the Administration’s perspectives and priorities,” as stated in departmental communications.

Other words recommended for avoidance in both internal and public communications reportedly include “emissions,” “energy transition,” “sustainability/sustainable,” “‘clean’ or ‘dirty’ energy,” “carbon/CO2 footprint,” and “tax breaks/tax credits/subsidies.” Officials clarified that while these terms are not entirely forbidden, staff are strongly encouraged not to use them.

The updates followed remarks by President Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly, in which he described climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world” and criticized previous predictions of catastrophic consequences from human activity as having been made “for bad reasons” and never materializing. Trump added, “If you don’t get away from this green scam, your country is going to fail – and I’m really good at predicting things,” while highlighting his decision to withdraw from the 2015 Paris Climate Accord during both his first and second terms.

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