Banned Words at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection: 'Climate Change'

Tristram Korten reports that employees of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) "have been ordered not to use the term 'climate change' or 'global warming' in any official communications, emails, or reports…" That information is confirmed by "former DEP employees, consultants, volunteers and records obtained by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting."

The unwritten policy was enacted by high-level officials within the DEP, "after Gov. Rick Scott took office in 2011 and appointed Herschel Vinyard Jr. as the DEP’s director…" Vinyard has since resigned, but neither he not his successor, Scott Stevenson, would comment for the article.

A representative from the DEP's press office flatly denied that such a policy exists.