The Energy Department has added “climate change,” “green” and “decarbonization” to its growing “list of words to avoid” at its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, according to an email issued Friday and obtained by POLITICO.
The words on the DOE list are at the heart of EERE’s mission: It is the government’s largest investor in technologies that help reduce heat-trapping emissions that cause climate change as well as the hazardous pollution from fossil fuels. It is the latest in a series of Trump administration efforts to dispute, silence or downplay the realities of climate change.
“Please ensure that every member of your team is aware that this is the latest list of words to avoid — and continue to be conscientious about avoiding any terminology that you know to be misaligned with the Administration’s perspectives and priorities,” the directive from acting director of external affairs Rachel Overbey said.
Those instructions apply to both public-facing and internal communications and cover documents such as requests for information for federal funding opportunities, reports and briefings.
In addition to “climate change” and “green,” EERE forbid officials from using “emissions” to avoid the implication that they are a negative. Climate change is caused by rising greenhouse gas emissions, which is driven primarily by burning oil, coal and natural gas for energy.
Other terms officials must ditch include “energy transition,” “sustainability/sustainable,” “‘clean’ or ‘dirty’ energy,” “Carbon/CO2 ‘Footprint’” and “Tax breaks/tax credits/subsidies.”
DOE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The new policies come days after President Donald Trump excoriated world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly for pursuing actions to confront rising emissions.
“I’ve been right about everything and I’m telling you that if you don’t get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail,” he said during his Tuesday speech.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright has also sought to impugn climate science by touting a report he commissioned that downplayed the role rising emissions have had in worsening weather extremes. He has endorsed some of the report’s most controversial findings, such as claiming the potential benefits of a warmer planet are undervalued.
DOE has been at the forefront of the Trump administration’s efforts to quash renewable energy subsidies and incentives. Last week, Wright canceled $13 billion of funding for renewable energy projects and took shots at wind and solar incentives that the Republican megalaw will quickly sunset after more than three decades of existence.
“If you can’t rock on your own after 33 years, maybe that’s not a business that’s going places,” Wright said at a Wednesday press conference.
