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The article examines the consequences of environmental activists’ data use in two contexts: air quality politics in Poland and biodiversity politics at the European Union level. Theoretically, I analyzed how anti-smog activists in Poland and conservation activists in the EU resolve strategic dilemmas regarding data use, considering the potential gains and losses that shape broader environmental movement outcomes. The article addresses a gap in data activism studies by examining how strategic data use translates into gains and losses for players involved in datafication - the transformation of environmental objects into datasets for strategic use. Using qualitative case studies and reflexive thematic analysis, I developed the “data sustainability package,” a framework encompassing dilemmas and gains/losses influencing environmental data action effectiveness in policy arenas. The package identifies four key dilemmas: (1) data can dominate messaging, excluding place-based or emotion-driven narratives; (2) data can serve short-term attention-grabbing campaigns or long-term policy strategies; (3) data communication must adapt to selected audiences; and (4) adopting expert positions through data restricts action repertoire choices. These dilemmas translated into specific gains and losses for environmental activists, including opportunities to influence high-level politicians but also loss of public and media attention.
Bartosz Ślosarski (Sat,) studied this question.