Philippe le Billon

Philippe le Billon is a Professor at the University of British Columbia, affiliated with both the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs and the Department of Geography. His work bridges the environment-development-security nexus, with a focus on climate change, ocean governance, extractive sectors, and conflicts. He collaborates extensively with NGOs and international organizations, particularly on environmental defenders' issues.

• Research Expertise: Development, Energy Policy, Environment and Climate Change, International Security, Oceans and Fisheries, Social Justice
• Geographic Focus: Africa, Canada/US, Latin America, Southeast Asia

His research explores global challenges such as green transition mineral risks, fish crimes, reparative capitalism, and neoliberalized violence. Recent work examines the techno-utopianism of space mining, AI in anti-corruption, and ocean defender human rights. He has contributed to leading journals like Global Environmental Change and Nature Sustainability, while engaging public audiences via The Guardian and The Conversation.

Scientific Contributions:

• 8 2025 publications on AI in extractives, energy transitions, and ocean governance
• 7 2024 works addressing carbon neutrality, green extractivism, and fisheries
• 2023 PNAS study on climate-smart conservation in Africa

Awards & Appointments:

• Scholar, Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton)
• Fulbright Research Chair, UC Berkeley
• Research Fellowship, Science-Po Paris
• Founding Director, Environmental Peacebuilding Association

Supervision: Mentored 15+ graduate students including Erik Post (green energy conflicts), Nick Middeldorp (environmental defenders), and Larissa Santos (microhydropower). Current advisees include Erik Post and Philippe's former students hold academic posts at institutions like University of Toronto and University of Sheffield.