The role of metrics in the governance of the water-energy-food nexus within the European Commission

Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus both academia and policy. This concept draws attention to link between different environmental societal domains, potentially entails substantive shifts governance processes. As consequence, policy-makers scientists started develop metrics make these interactions ‘trade-offs’ visible. However, it is unknown if current framings of relevant quantified either reinforce or challenge existing structures. paper explores relationships nexus, models based on discussions with staff within European Commission. Although narratives around need for new are situated conventional script about use evidence change policy, our data indicate processes co-production, by which (or non-use) any dependent institutional practices; will reflect dominant political orderings. In doing so we provide critical analysis role governance, direct discursive, arrangements they embedded co-constitutive. Focusing cultural settings established used, study suggests that question needs be explored as problem establishing legitimate policy objective Commission EU policy-making more broadly.