Greener NHS Quarterly data collection
Frequency: quarterly
Background
In October 2020, NHS England launched the Delivering a Net Zero NHS report, which outlines how the NHS will achieve its commitment to become Net Zero.
High quality data and reporting were highlighted within the report as key components for understanding and monitoring against this commitment. The Greener NHS team develop, maintain and update an agreed measurement framework on behalf of the whole NHS to underpin the delivery of the NHS’ Net Zero ambitions and provide the basis for accountability at national, regional and programme level, of which the Greener NHS Quarterly data collection is a central component. The Greener NHS Data Collection provides a baseline for providers and ICBs against key deliverables for the Greener NHS programme over the current financial year.
Submission dates
Data is collected quarterly after each financial quarter ends.
Registered users will have access to the exact submission dates in the Data Collections Framework.
Legal basis
The Greener NHS aggregate data collection is listed in the NHS Standard Contract: Approved Collections.
The Health and Care Act 2022 placed new duties on NHS England, ICBs, foundations trusts and trusts to consider statutory emissions targets in their decisions.
13D. Duty as to effectiveness, efficiency etc.
The collection directly enables more effective and efficient fleet and transport management by enabling trusts to benchmark productivity and utilisation against peers and identify opportunities for improvement.
It also supports economical use of resources by informing targeted national investment decisions and by scheduling and designing the collection to reduce reporting burden and duplication across the system.
13NC. Duties as to climate change
The data collection is a primary input to NHS carbon footprint modelling and the Greener NHS measurement framework, enabling NHS England to measure and evidence progress towards net zero travel and transport objectives and related statutory guidance. It helps NHS England have regard to climate duties in practice by providing the evidence base to plan and prioritise decarbonisation interventions.
In order for NHS England to contribute towards compliance with section 1 of the Climate Change Act 2008 (UK net zero emissions target) it must be able to (a) measure the NHS-related carbon account and (b) “ensure” that the NHS-related carbon account contributes towards compliance of at least 100% reduction on 1990 baseline.
Trusts and ICBs are expected to meet these duties through the delivery of board-approved Green Plans.
These duties are supported by statutory guidance, including:
Last edited: 12 May 2026 2:37 pm