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Fostering Sustainable Practices in Intensive Care Course

Last updated : 22/04/2026 - 738 views

As a participant – you still have access to the virtual classroom on the ESICM ACADEMY

The ESICM Fostering Sustainable Practices in Intensive Care Course aims to provide important insights in the importance of sustainability in the ICU and will finalize with a call for action.

The imperative to embrace environmental sustainability within healthcare is underscored by the many impacts of climate change on public health. The healthcare sector’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is in stark contradiction to its mission of promoting health, necessitating a critical look at how healthcare is delivered. Beyond the immediate and direct environmental consequences, the broader implications of climate change, including increased incidence of heat-related illnesses, respiratory conditions, and vector-borne diseases, place additional strain on healthcare resources, further amplifying the urgency for sustainable transformation.

As a leading and global society in intensive care medicine, ESICM acknowledges this critical moment to lead by example, showing that it is possible to maintain, and even enhance patient care standards while significantly mitigating environmental impact of the activities in the ICU.

Faculty

Directors:

  • Jan DE WAELE MD, PhD
    • Professor, Department of Critical Care Medicine/ Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium; Sr. Clinical Investigator – FWO – Research Foundation Flanders; President, ESICM
  • Nicole HUNFELD PhD PharmD
    • Clinical pharmacologist and assistant professor. Intensive Care Pharmacist, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Chair of Green ICU Committee of the Dutch Association of Intensive Care. PI of circular hospital project ESCH-R. Member of green ICU committee ESICM, member of Clinical Pharmacists Group ESICM
Programme content
  • Sustainable Healthcare/ Challenges induced by climate change
  • The Importance of Sustainability in ICU
  • The Environmental Footprint of ICUs
  • Energy Efficiency and Waste Reduction in Clinical Settings
  • Implementing Green Procurement in the ICU
  • Global Success Stories in Sustainable Healthcare Practices/ Patient perspective
  • Integrating Sustainability into ICU Research & Education
  • The transition to Implementation
Objectives
  • Understand how the different methods of measuring the environmental footprint can be used
  • Understand the pros and cons of the different methods of environmental footprint measuring
  • Learn how to interpret an LCA
  • Understand the boundaries of LCA’s
  • Learn about the challenges of a medication LCA
  • Learn about specific LCA terminology
  • Explain the importance of green procurement
  • Define what green procurement is
  • Recognize the knowledge do you need as an HCP to ask the right questions with regard to green procurement
  • List examples of green procurement in ICU
  • Understand which sources are available for green interventions and how these are designed
  • Learn how a national benchmark is performed regarding green ICU interventions
  • Identify Green Priorities in ICU Sustainability: start a green team, detect hotspots, measure impact
  • Action Green Priorities in ICU Sustainability: Practical actions, resources, barriers and chances
Target

Healthcare professionals interest in applying sustainability and green procedures in their ICU/clinical practice

Accreditation

An application will be made to the UEMS EACCME® for CME accreditation of each live event.