The award recognizes the best presentation delivered by a PhD student or early-career researcher at the conference.
The jury highlighted the quality of Klee’s presentation, which focused on a legal analysis of the Falepili Union, a recently concluded treaty between Australia and Tuvalu addressing issues related to climate change and security.
A groundbreaking agreement on climate mobility and the right of veto
At the heart of the Falepili Union, Australia commits to recognizing Tuvalu’s territory even in the event it becomes submerged due to climate change, and to welcoming an annual contingent of Tuvaluan citizens. In return, Tuvalu grants Australia access rights to its territory and a veto power over any future security agreements that Tuvalu might sign with third states.
“It’s fascinating because it touches both environmental and climate issues as well as questions of security and defence,” explains Klee.
“One of the main ideas in my presentation was to show that one of the primary national security concerns for Pacific Island states is climate change,” he emphasizes.
The Falepili Union is unprecedented in several respects: it is the first climate mobility agreement and the first treaty granting a foreign state veto power over another sovereign country’s security commitments.
Klee also notes that the veto mechanism has a clear geopolitical aim: “It’s directed at China. China has already signed security agreements with countries in the region.” In his view, the Falepili Union represents “a way of anchoring Tuvalu within the Western bloc.”
Research on the legal framework for intelligence gathering
Klee’s presentation at the AFDSD conference ties into his doctoral research on how international law regulates state intelligence-gathering activities.
He points out that the Falepili Union is not only a climate mobility agreement but also one concerning security and defence. “It is likely that Australia will use Tuvalu’s territory to collect intelligence—particularly on China’s activities in the region,” he explains. While Tuvalu’s landmass is small, its maritime territory is vast.
“That raises many legal questions about the respective responsibilities of Australia and Tuvalu, as well as the compliance of their actions with international law,” he notes.
A valuable learning experience
“The award is the cherry on top, but beyond that, the experience of presenting at the conference was truly rewarding. It’s incredibly valuable as a young researcher to speak in front of experienced people, get their feedback, and exchange ideas with specialists in my field,” says Klee.
A 2020 graduate of both the LL.M. at the University of Ottawa and the Master 2 in Public International Law at Aix Marseille Université in France, Klee has been pursuing a joint doctoral degree between the two institutions since 2021, under the supervision of Professors Craig Forcese and Rostane Mehdi.
Simon Klee’s academic journey and achievements exemplify the mission of the Faculty of Law’s graduate programs: to train legal scholars capable of illuminating the world’s most pressing security challenges, particularly those at the intersection of climate and geopolitics.