“Climate change”, “green”, “emissions” among newly banned words at American Department of Energy

US Department of Energy Seal (credit)

In the latest initiative to downplay climate change in the American government, the Department of Energy has discouraged employees from the use of words such as “climate change”, “green”, and “emissions” in all parts of their work. 

A leaked email, sent at the end of September, instructed DOE staff to “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 message was sent by the acting director of external affairs Rachel Overby to workers at the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which is the largest federal funder of clean energy technology. This is especially significant given that the EERA has been a primary supporter of research on renewable energy like wind and solar power, hydrogen fuel cell technology, and geothermal energy, with a budget of $3.46 billion in 2023. 

This new policy falls in line with an ongoing effort from the White House to dispute, censor, and downplay climate change and its effects. Since making his stance clear back in his first presidency when he pulled the US out of the Paris Climate Accord, Trump’s anti-environmentalist efforts have intensified recently with his administration cancelling billions of dollars in climate research funding, proposing the shutdown of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, and firing governmental advisors on clean air regulation. The new word-banning policy also came just days after he called climate change “a con job” at the United Nations General Assembly. 

Word-banning is not a new development in the Trump administration’s public policy: back in March, governmental agencies flagged more than 350 words - ranging from “climate science” to “disability” to  “women” - to avoid using in public facing websites, school curricula, and other materials. Research grant applications to federal institutions such as the National Science Foundation that include keywords like “bias,” “social justice,” or “LGBTQ” have reportedly been subjected to additional scrutiny, and in some cases, current grants have been terminated or reduced.

The Trump administration’s censorship efforts raise concerns about climate response and freedom of speech issues alike - at a time when urgent action and global discussion are more important than ever.