Writing

Christian regularly writes op-eds for major newspapers, especially on global climate and energy politics and foreign affairs. His writing has been published by the ABC, CNN, Canberra Times, Lowy Interpreter, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Conversation, among others.

Christian Downie and Maxfield Peterson “COP28: Turning the tap off slowly – why Australia’s decision to end overseas fossil fuel finance matters” The Conversation, December 2023

Christian Downie and Maxfield Peterson “Australia can no longer justify fossil fuel funding” Lowy Interpreter, April 2023

Christian Downie and Robert Brulle “Big Oil’s trade group allies outspent clean energy groups by a whopping 27x, with billions in ads and lobbying to keep fossil fuels flowing” The Conversation, February 2023

Christian Downie “Industry lobby groups are out in force against Labor’s energy cap plan – doing the dirty work of fossil fuel giants” The Guardian, December 2022

Christian Downie “The US has finally passed a huge climate bill. Australia needs to keep up.” The Conversation, August 2022

Christian Downie “What does the G20 actually do?” International Affairs, June 2022

Christian Downie “When the tank's empty: Australia's impoverished energy security.” The Interpreter, April 2022

Christian Downie “Tiwi Islands offshore gas fight shows public banks are under real pressure over fossil fuel funding.” The Conversation, April 2022

Christian Downie “A successful COP26 is essential for Earth's future. Here's what needs to go right.” The Conversation, October 2021

Christian Downie and Llewelyn Hughes “Asia's energy pivot is a warning to Australia: clinging to coal is bad for the economy.” The Conversation, October 2021

Christian Downie “Fossil fuel misinformation may sideline one of the most important climate change reports ever released.” The Conversation, August 2021

Christian Downie “We could be a superpower: 3 ways Australia can take advantage of the changing geopolitics of energy.” The Conversation, May 2021

Emma Aisbett and Christian Downie “Australia’s climate reputation is in tatters after summit.” The Canberra Times, April 2021

Christian Down “Genuine about climate action, Mr Cormann? Here’s how to turn over a new leaf.” The Conversation, March 2021

Christian Downie “Cormann's OECD stewardship will be no easy task.” The Canberra Times, March 2021

Christian Downie “Biden says the US will rejoin the Paris climate agreement in 77 days. Then Australia will really feel the heat.” The Conversation, November 2020.

Christian Downie and Llewelyn Hughes “Will Japan continue to finance international coal projects?” East Asia Forum, August 2020.

Christian Downie “The complex consequences of a plunging oil price.” The Interpreter, April 2020.

Gordon Peake and Christian Downie “The future ain’t what it used to be.” The Interpreter, March 2020.

Christian Downie “Taking US oil in a global crisis sounds good on paper, but it won’t do much for Australia’s energy security.” The Conversation, March 2020.

Christian Downie “Politicians must mine the divide between coal lobbies and energy companies.” The Conversation, October 2019.

Christian Downie “It’s time for Australia to scale up its energy diplomacy.” The Interpreter, June 2019.

Christian Downie “What makes the G20 a force for global good?” The Conversation, November 2018.

Christian Downie “Australian energy diplomacy.” The Interpreter, October 2018.

Christian Downie “Securing our energy.” paradigm_shift, Spring 2018.

Christian Downie “Lack of climate policy threatens to trip up Australian diplomacy this summit season.” The Conversation, September 2018.

Christian Downie “MIKTA and the G20.” Australian Institute of International Affairs, May 2018.

Christian Downie “Strategies for middle powers.” Australian Institute of International Affairs, June 2017.

Christian Downie “Time for China and Europe to lead, as Trump dumps the Paris climate deal.” The Conversation, June 2017.

Christian Downie “Putting Energy into Foreign Policy.” The Interpreter, February 2017.

Christian Downie “The Security Threat from Climate Change.” Pearls and Irritations, February 2017.

Christian Downie “Why China and Europe should form the world’s most powerful ‘climate bloc’” CNN Opinion, November 2016.

Christian Downie “The geopolitical rationale for climate action.” East Asia Forum, September 2016.

Christian Downie and Howard Bamsey “Election 2016: do we need to re-establish a department of climate change?” The Conversation, May 2016.

Christian Downie “Australia can learn a lesson from the US’s approach to coal.” The Sydney Morning Herald, February 2016.

Christian Downie and Peter Drahos “Why we should go it alone on climate change.” ABC News The Drum, November 2015.

Christian Downie “MIKTA: Benign middle-power diplomacy, or a risk for Australia?” The Interpreter, August 2015.

Christian Downie “Australia is not meeting its IEA oil reserve targets.” The Interpreter, February 2015.

Christian Downie “UN climate resolution in Lima increases pressure for domestic action”, ABC Environment, December 2014

Christian Downie “Missteps on climate change could cost Australian diplomacy dearly.” The Conversation, June 2014

Christian Downie “The G20 has a crucial role in preventing future energy crises.” The Conversation, August 2014.

Christian Downie “Story for a Nation: Capturing Climate Change for Social Democrats.” Chifley Research Centre, 2012.

Abigail Jones, Christian Downie, and Nigel Purvis “A Proposal for a Consultative Group for Low Emissions Development.” Resources For the Future, June 2011.