Megan Evans
LightNews LightNews
banner
megcevans.bsky.social
Megan Evans
@megcevans.bsky.social
2.1K followers 510 following 160 posts
environmental policy, governance, finance • Senior Lecturer UNSW Canberra, Australia 🦘 • she/her • likes dogs • often grumpy, mostly about climate change, biodiversity loss and injustice 🇵🇸 https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/megan-evans
Posts Replies Media Videos
megcevans.bsky.social
#AIslop being presented in an #ecology conference about #conservation
Come on people, there's plenty of talented photographers you can showcase (& credit) in your slides instead of wasting water and CO2 making this crap, practice what you preach #esa2025
AI generated image of a parrot, cat, rooster, and rats plus a few headless AI animals (circled in red)
November 26, 2025 at 1:03 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
90 academics from Group of Eight universities voice their opposition to the #GO8 signing onto a statement by the Business Council of Australia www.bca.com.au/our-insights... that endorses the Australian Government's plans to weaken national environmental laws #EPBCAct #esa2025 #environment #nature
Independent statement on the Group of Eight’s position on EPBC Act reforms The federal Parliament is currently considering amendments to the flagship federal environmental legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (‘EPBC Act’). This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen environmental protections to reverse Australia’s current trajectory of extinctions and biodiversity loss. We are academics at the institutions in the Group of Eight (Go8), with expertise in biodiversity conservation science, climate science, policy, economics and law. We support amendments to the EPBC Act to strengthen protections for biodiversity and remove ministerial discretion and legal loopholes, in order to create a level playing field for businesses, and make environmental protection and recovery central to all decision-making processes under the Act. We note that the Go8 has signed a statement by the Business Council of Australia endorsing amendments that will weaken the Act’s protection for the environment. This statement does not reflect the world leading conservation research being carried out at our institutions. It also does not reflect the extensive evidence-based advice provided by experts based at Go8 institutions during the review and consultation processes over the past five years. We disagree with this statement, and the Go8’s endorsement of it. Names of academics Names of academics Names of academics
November 25, 2025 at 10:17 PM
megcevans.bsky.social
#esa2025
Q's to guide us as we do the hard work amidst ecological & climate grief:
How do I honour my younger self?
How do I honour my ancestors?
How do I honour future generations?
And how will I care for and rejuvenate myself to maintain this energy for life?
Beautiful talk from Tiahni Adamson
Tiahni Adamson on stage in front of a large photo of her younger self swimming on Palm Island
November 23, 2025 at 11:45 PM
megcevans.bsky.social
#esa2025 Keynote presentation from Tiahni Adamson #BushHeritage speaking about #FirstNations governance and #RightWay science. First Nations leadership is not only the right thing to do but leads to more effective #ecological outcomes
A First Nations woman standing at the main stage at the Ecological Society of Australia Conference with a large screen in the background
November 23, 2025 at 11:25 PM
megcevans.bsky.social
Professor Graeme Samuel voiced his support for #offsets to deliver #netgain and to be #likeforlike, and criticized "buy[ing] your way out of the problem" in terms of damage to habitat.

Unfortunately, that's exactly what the draft legislation allows for!
November 14, 2025 at 12:36 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
My university used this event today to announce a major partnership with OpenAI. Don't worry, they'll offset the emissions from ChatGPT use www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/new...
Join us for the 2025 Societal Impact of AI Symposium - a full-day experience showcasing the bold, ethical and human-centred role of AI in solving global challenges. UNSW Sydney inks Australia’s biggest ChatGPT Edu deal with OpenAI UNSW recognises the importance of addressing the environmental impacts of emerging technologies and AI use. In response to feedback from our community, the University will purchase carbon offsets verified under a reputable standard to mitigate the emissions associated with the ChatGPT Edu agreement. As with other purchased goods and services, carbon emissions associated with the rollout will be included in UNSW’s emission reduction targets and annual reporting.
September 16, 2025 at 11:22 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
I don’t know Tala, but I know this child deserves to live in safety and with dignity. Tala is one of the 2.38 million Palestinian children who have the right to a future. Please sign up at letchildrenlive.com & share their name on social media to make sure every child is represented
#letchildrenlive
White background with words Let Tala Live
September 6, 2025 at 11:54 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
Today's National March for Palestine over Commonwealth Bridge in #Canberra
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
Today's National March for Palestine over Commonwealth Bridge in #Canberra
August 24, 2025 at 7:27 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
National march for Palestine, Parliament House, Canberra
August 24, 2025 at 4:32 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
National march for Palestine, Canberra
August 24, 2025 at 3:47 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
You'd have hoped the VC would be aware of the "never give ANU an apostrophe S" rule
'This is good news': why ANU's 'painful journey' was necessary By Genevieve Bell, Canberra Times
August 20, 2025 at 4:44 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
Miserable weather in Canberra but the dogs still need time to run (eat duck poo)
Woman looking to the camera who is wearing beanie, sunglasses, keffiyeh, and baby who is wearing a Viking hat beanie Brown and black dog eating duck poo on the oval
July 28, 2025 at 5:03 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
Nature finance council. They're meant to be figuring out how to increase private finance into nature. Here's the minutes of their 6th meeting. No minutes for 2025 meetings yet. Would love to know how much money spent on board fees. www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/...
Nature Finance Council The Nature Finance Council was established in December 2023. The council provides expert advice to the Minister on how to increase private sector investment in nature. The council held its first meeting on Monday, 4 December 2023. NATURE FINANCE COUNCIL MEETING 6 CHAIR’S SUMMARY 2 December 2024 On 2 December 2024, the Nature Finance Council met virtually. The Council’s Chair welcomed the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water, and members. The Council reflected on nature finance developments over 2024, and the Council’s contributions to advancing the agenda, including through the Global Nature Positive Summit (Summit). Council members also discussed activities supporting engagement and capability building in the private sector on nature-related issues, and the establishment of the Nature Positive Matters initiative which the Minister launched at the Summit. Council members noted the growing awareness and interest in the private sector on nature finance issues and the importance of a holistic consideration of climate and nature. Members agreed there was further work to do in 2025 on mainstreaming nature in decision making and building private sector capability to support the transition to nature positive practices. The Council also agreed there remained opportunities to progress the government’s nature positive and sustainable finance agendas in 2025. The next Council meeting is expected to be held in early 2025.
July 28, 2025 at 12:57 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
This week's letter to @senatorwong.bsky.social calls out her blatantly misogynistic and vile comment about @mehreenfaruqi.bsky.social for her action in Parliament, drawing attention to the Australian Government 's complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza.
Dear Senator Wong I am utterly disgusted - new depths of disgust - by your remarks and the actions of the Labor government this week, by seeking to censure Senator Faruqi for drawing attention to Israel's genocide in Gaza in the Parliament. Senator Faruqi - unlike you and the rest of the government - is doing something about Israel's genocide in Gaza. Your remark that Senator Faruqi took this action for "attention" and as a party power grab, rather than drawing attention to the systematic, deliberate annihilation of a civilian population, of which Australia is complicit in, is breathtakingly misogynistic and nauseatingly disgusting. I honestly can't think of a more vile comment that an Australian politician has made for some time. Tony Burkes comment that "noone is above the law" following Hannah Thomas' violent assault by a police officer comes close. This Labor government is utterly devoid of any meaning, morals, values, or care for Australians or any other people. As I soothe my 6 month old daughter to sleep, I watch videos of dead and dying children on my phone, and cry. Australia must: - impose sanctions on the State of Israel - expel the Israeli ambassador - terminate contracts for F-35 bomb bay doors No Regards Megan Evans
July 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
megcevans.bsky.social
Sanction Isr*el rally in Canberra today 🍉
Crowd gathered in front of Parliament House, Canberra for the Sanction Israel rally, 20th July 2025 A kite for every child killed in Gaza (there are 18,000 paper kites) Paper kites for Palestine. Names of children killed in Gaza before their first birthday
July 20, 2025 at 8:43 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
And yes, I also regularly write to my local MP Alicia Payne (who has never once responded), local Labor Senator Katy Gallagher and Senator Penny Wong. Here's the standard text I receive back from.
Dear Megan, Thank you for taking the time to write to me about the conflict in the Middle East. The ongoing conflict in the Midde East is extremely concerning and deeply distressing for many Australians, including the many Australians with a connection to the region and loved ones directly impacted. While Australia is not a central player, we have consistently used our voice to advocate for a ceasefire, the protection of civilians, increased humanitarian assistance, and the release of hostages. Along with the majority of the international community, the Australian Government has frequently condemned Israeli Defence Force attacks in Gaza and the West Bank on civilians or aid workers. We have consistently joined partners, including the UK, Germany and France, in calling on Israel to abide by its obligations, including to provide basic services and facilitate humanitarian assistance. In addition, last week our government applied targeted financial sanctions, and travel bans on two senior ministers in the Israeli Government for their role in serious human rights violations and abuses relating to Israeli settler violence in the West Bank. We have applied these measures in coordination with Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. Throughout this conflict Australia has adopted the most supportive position on recognition of Palestine of any Australian government in history, including supporting recognition of a Palestinian state as a part of a peace process and enduring peace in the region. Yours sincerely Katy Gallagher Senator for the ACT
July 17, 2025 at 4:25 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
I regularly write to @albomp.bsky.social asking the Australian Government to take action on the #genocide in #Gaza by sanctioning Israel, expelling their ambassador, and ending export of F-35 bomb bay doors. Today I finally got a response from PM&C: not my problem 🤷‍♀️
Referred to the Department of Home Affairs Thank you for your message to the Prime Minister. All items of correspondence are read and carefully considered, however not all items will receive a response. Looking at the issues you have raised, I would recommend the Department of Home Affairs would be best placed to respond to you. To assist with that, we have referred your correspondence to the Department of Home Affairs for their consideration. Please keep in mind that your correspondence might need input from multiple government departments or agencies and this could take time to compile for you. You can contact the Department of Home Affairs regarding the progress of your correspondence by visiting their contact us web page. Thank you for your correspondence to the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister. The Prime Minister appreciates you taking the time to write to him.
July 17, 2025 at 4:19 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
ICYMI, here's me in @crikey.com.au on how the Safeguard Mechanism enables Labor's gaslighting on #climate action www.crikey.com.au/2025/06/06/l...
Cheap carbon credits from dodgy projects keep Labor’s gas-fired future alive The Venn diagram of arguments used to delay action on climate change and defend carbon markets is rapidly becoming a circle. For the Albanese government to claim it is taking action on climate change while approving “carbon bombs” like the North West Shelf extension, integrity concerns must be dismissed and “new” methods that replicate known problems need to be developed to ease “supply woes”. Flooding the market with cheap credits crowds out higher integrity, more expensive projects like tree planting, and artificially keeps the carbon price low. This keeps coal, oil and gas facilities happy since they can purchase cheap, dodgy credits to become “net zero” and still be wildly profitable. Roughly a third of the legislated safeguard emissions abatement out to 2030 could be met with credits from low integrity projects.
June 8, 2025 at 1:24 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
Getting some great feedback on my new piece www.crikey.com.au/2025/06/06/l...
Comment from a reader: This is an ok article but could have been much better if co written with a scientist to emphasise the scientific fraud aspect. The integrity issues as described and shown in pictures don’t get to the heart of it.
June 6, 2025 at 6:13 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
Trump Will Also Place A 10% Tariff on Rottnest Island Because The Quokkas Can Get Fucked Too @thebetootaadvocate.bsky.social
Betoota Advocate headline "Trump Will Also Place A 10% Tariff on Rottnest Island Because The Quokkas Can Get Fucked Too". Image on left is Donald Trump pointing at a list of tariffs by country, image on right is an adorable Quokka
April 7, 2025 at 5:42 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
More and more people are being arbitrarily detained in the USA for weeks on end and yet DFAT advice is still "exercise normal safety precautions". @senatorwong.bsky.social 's modus operandi is "do literally nothing"
Screenshot from smarttraveller.gov.au of United States travel advice which is "exercise normal safety precautions"
March 23, 2025 at 12:57 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
Outrageous VC salaries are symptom of the deep sickness within the sector, that is being destroyed by corporatisation and overpaid executive managers with bullshit jobs
who strangle teaching and research with bullshit admin, "engagement" and "strategic initiatives"
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
Screengrab of journal article linked in post: On the responsibilities of intellectuals and the rise of bullshit jobs in universities by Masud Husain
March 15, 2025 at 12:44 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
Completely delusional response from Universities Australia - if we needed confirmation they are simply grifters for the university corporate elite instead of the higher education sector as a whole, here it is.
P.s join your union @nteunion.bsky.social

www.smh.com.au/national/pro...
Universities Australia, a lobby group representing 39 of the country’s universities, said debate over vice-chancellor salaries was a distraction from the conversation about properly funding universities. “Vice chancellors lead major organisations that underpin local economies, support thousands of jobs, educate thousands of students and generate private revenue streams which are reinvested in support of Australian employment, education and research,” its submission said.
March 15, 2025 at 12:30 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
Note that just yesterday Universities Australia adopted a definition of antisemitism that conflates critique of Israel and Zionism with critique of Judaism - the Jewish Council of Australia has issued this press release: www.jewishcouncil.com.au/media/jewish...
February 27, 2025 at 8:03 AM
megcevans.bsky.social
It's not uncommon for Ministers to jettison successful ARC grants before they commence if they seem too woke, but to suspend an active grant 3/4 years in is unheard of.

Racist, reactionary response to Murdoch smears #academicfreedom

@arc-tracker.bsky.social

www.afr.com/policy/healt...
Research funding body suspends grant to pro-Palestinian academic Julie Hare Education editor A controversial pro-Palestinian academic at Macquarie University who has made public anti-Israel statements has had her $870,000 grant suspended by the Australian Research Council. In 2022, Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah was awarded $870,269 by the ARC to conduct a study titled “Arab/Muslim Australian Social Movements since the 1970s”. If it cannot, the money will need to be repaid to the research council. Abdel-Fattah became the centre of media attention last year after she made numerous anti-Israel statements on social media such as, “If you are a Zionist, you have no claim or right to cultural safety”.
February 27, 2025 at 7:54 AM