Simon Beaudoin is a doctoral researcher in the Department of Political Science at the University of British Columbia. Integrating insights from social and natural sciences, his research examines the interplay between governance and ecological systems and seeks to uncover practical solutions to transboundary issues.
Simon holds a Master of Philosophy in Politics and International Studies from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Science in International Studies from the University of Montreal. His recent publications are featured in the Canadian Journal of Political Science, Environmental Politics, Marine Policy, and Biological Conservation. Simon is also the author of a book on global biodiversity governance published with the Presses de l’Université du Québec. His social and academic contributions were recognized by several awards, including a Fulbright Award (Stanford University), the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec’s Youth Medal, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Fonds de recherche du Québec Doctoral Fellowships.
Simon is the co-founder and co-director of Possible, a non-profit providing educational resources on social and ecological regeneration through storytelling and research. He is also a lecturer at the University of Sherbrooke, where he teaches a graduate seminar on the international politics of climate change. Through the Scholarship, he hopes to join a vibrant community of researchers and mentors, amplify the work of local and global change-makers, and strengthen Canada’s role in the world.
The Influence of Pacific Small Island States in International Environmental Negotiations
Research in international relations has long focused on the material power of large states to explain global outcomes (Morgenthau 1959; Waltz 1979). Yet, small and medium-sized states, as well as civil society actors and indigenous peoples have demonstrated that leadership can emerge from a variety of sources (Downie 2025; Acharya 2016). This study examines how the 14 Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) — including Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu — have significantly influenced international negotiations on climate change, biodiversity and plastic pollution (Klöck 2020; Ourbak and Magnan 2018).
Despite their limited economic and military power, the PSIDS have shaped several key outcomes, including the creation of the High Ambition Coalition, which helped secure the 1.5°C target in the Paris Agreement (Beaudoin 2024; Cointe and Guillemot 2023). The PSIDS are an appropriate example for understanding how small states build coalitions that can shape international agendas, and also for strengthening Canada’s alliances in the Asia-Pacific region and increasing its influence in global governance forums.
The guiding question is: Why have the PSIDS been able to exert disproportionate influence in international environmental negotiations? I will explore the partnerships they forge with small, medium and large countries and the role of civil society in strengthening them. In addition to its academic contribution, this research offers useful insights for Canada. Like the PSIDS, Canada often seeks to act as a constructive power by connecting actors, encouraging ambition and supporting multilateral cooperation. As a coastal nation with substantial maritime interests, Canada also needs to strengthen its alliances in the Asia-Pacific.
By studying how small states amplify their voices and impact, this project may inform Canadian foreign policy, support shared goals in global environmental governance, and strengthen Canada’s leadership in multilateral action.
