The ‘playbook’ lobbyists use to delay climate action

<p>When Professor Christian Downie appeared before a Senate inquiry into climate and energy misinformation, he warned that Australia is facing coordinated campaigns designed not to debate climate solutions, but to stall them.</p> <p>Professor Downie has spent years inside boardrooms and the lobbying world studying how these campaigns are built &ndash; tracing the billions spent on messaging by lobby groups, PR firms and think tanks &ndash; and outlining what he calls &ldquo;the climate obstruction playbook&rdquo;. It&rsquo;s a strategy refined in Washington and increasingly echoed in Australia.</p> <p>Today, Professor at ANU&rsquo;s School of Regulation and Global Governance, Christian Downie, on how the obstruction playbook has been so successful in stopping action on climate change.</p> <p>This episode was originally published in October, 2025.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>If you enjoy <em>7am</em>, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Socials:</strong><strong> </strong>Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a></p> <p><strong>Guest:</strong> Professor at ANU&rsquo;s School of Regulation and Global Governance and Director of the Governing Energy Transition Lab, Christian Downie</p> <p><strong>Photo:&nbsp;</strong>REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>