7am The ‘playbook’ lobbyists use to delay climate action
Oct 22, 2025
In this podcast, Christian Downie, a Professor at ANU and climate policy expert, delves into the 'climate obstruction playbook' that hinders Australia’s climate action. He discusses the coordinated campaigns led by lobbyists and PR firms that delay necessary reforms and examines how tactics like litigation and astroturfing are employed. Downie highlights the vast financial resources fueling these efforts and emphasizes the challenges of transparency in Australia. He also offers insights on countering climate misinformation effectively.
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Coordinated Obstruction Network
- There is a coordinated network influencing public, media and politics to stop effective climate action.
- Christian Downie says empirical evidence shows these actors and financial flows are substantial.
Inside Lobbying Boardrooms
- Christian Downie describes meetings in US boardrooms and lobby offices where strategies to kill climate laws were plotted.
- He observed PR, polling and astroturfing used to block emissions limits and stall legislation.
PR Firms Drive Sophisticated Campaigns
- Public relations firms run complex campaigns beyond ads, including polling, focus groups and astroturfing.
- These tactics are core elements of what Downie calls the climate obstruction playbook.