Department of Environmental Protection not allowed to use term 'climate change'

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – February was the coldest month on record for several states, but former employees of the Department of Environment Protection said in Florida the term "climate change" is banned in reports and presentations. A former state employee said a shift in terminology began with Gov. Rick Scott's election.

However, the governor's office and DEP have said allegations that the phrase "climate change" has been banned are "simply not true."

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Scott made national news with a statement he gave when asked about climate change.

"I am not a scientist," Scott said.

Now former employees of the Department of Environmental Protection claim in published reports they were not allowed to use the term "climate change."

Others said there was no memo, just an understanding.

Craig Diamond worked for the Department of Community Affairs. He said his agency, which used to manage growth before being abolished in 2011, was making a subtle shift to the term sea-level rise.

"Not using the term climate change pulled the rug out from under a program, (but) I don't see that as looming large," Diamond said. "But it takes away from the credibility a little bit. People say, 'Why are you doing this?' Well, we can't really tell you, but we are responding to something that's out there."

An attorney who asked to go by the name Vivian said in the middle of a job interview late last year with the Public Service Commission, she was asked her opinion on climate change.

"I was quite surprised," Vivian said. "I, uh, its almost like asking (about) your religion in a way, but I didn't want to lie."

She didn't get the job.

David Guest is a critic of DEP and Scott.

"What this administration has done makes Florida the laughing stock of the entire country," said Guest, who works for Earth Justice.

A search of the DEP website for the term "climate change" turned up more than 1,600 posts. Many were from before Scott took office.