From numbers to power: how data configurations shape environmental governance

Environmental data has become central to environmental planning and management, yet its availability does not guarantee transparency, accountability, or responsiveness. This study investigates how different configurations of environmental data governance shape actor relationships and governance outcomes. Using qualitative analysis of three Israeli cases, it compares state-led air pollution monitoring in Haifa, proponent-led Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), and citizen-triggered urban noise monitoring. These cases represent centralized, privatized, and fragmented data configurations that differently influence trust, coordination, and authority among regulators, developers, municipalities, and civil society. The findings show that environmental data is not a neutral technical input but a governance artifact embedded in institutional design. The comparative analysis highlights how distinct data configurations affect planning and regulatory processes, with varying consequences for legitimacy and effectiveness. The study contributes to debates on environmental planning and management by underscoring the importance of institutional mechanisms that promote transparent, accountable, and inclusive data practices.