The nuclear phase-out decided in Switzerland and Germany has brought the debate on energy supply and consumption to the forefront of public attention. The discussion surrounding energy issues touches on politics, economics, and society alike. The implementation of the energy transition requires the collaboration of various stakeholders and their exchange on energy topics. This raises the question of how language is used in these discourses and what influence language and communication have on opinion formation, acceptance, and behavior.

The contributions in this volume illuminate the energy discourse in public communication and address specific issues from communication practice alongside methodological questions: How can energy companies communicate clearly with their customers? To what extent can the public be involved in official communication? How do language and linguistic means influence the energy debate? What linguistic units does the debate draw upon? A common focus of all contributions is the interplay of language, communication, and interaction, as well as highlighting the significance of applied linguistics for societal change processes.