Environmental sustainability in intensive care: the path forward. An ESICM Green Paper

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Critical Care Medicine
• Healthcare Sustainability

Background:

• Intensive care units (ICUs) have a significant environmental impact due to high resource consumption and waste generation.
• Climate change poses risks to critical care operations and patient outcomes.
• There is a growing need for sustainable practices within intensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop actionable strategies for environmental sustainability in intensive care.
• To integrate sustainability into the practices of intensive care unit (ICU) stakeholders.
• To address the challenge of environmental sustainability in critical care medicine.

Main Methods:

• A task force comprising topic experts and ESICM committee representatives was formed.
• The task force convened regularly to identify key sustainability domains and prioritize actions.
• The Green Paper drafts underwent iterative refinement and final approval by the ESICM Executive Committee.

Main Results:

• ICU activities contribute considerably to environmental impact through energy use, disposable items, and advanced therapies.
• The ESICM Green Paper proposes structured approaches for ICUs, focusing on energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable procurement.
• Recommendations include raising awareness, integrating sustainability into research, and establishing sustainable policies.

Conclusions:

• The ESICM Green Paper provides guidance on clinical practice, research, education, and organizational aspects of sustainability in intensive care.
• Reducing the ecological footprint of intensive care is compatible with high-quality patient care.
• Promoting a resilient and responsible healthcare system is a shared responsibility among all ICU stakeholders.