ESICM podcast series: Intensive Care in a Changing Climate

Finally, we look ahead.

Professor Jan De Waele, ESICM past president, reflects on the role of professional societies such as ESICM in driving change across the intensive care community.

Should sustainability become a core component of education, research, and clinical practice? How can societies support hospitals, researchers, and clinicians in reducing their environmental footprint? And what collective actions are needed to ensure that intensive care contributes to a healthier future—not only for our patients, but also for our planet?

As healthcare faces increasing environmental challenges, professional societies have a unique opportunity to lead, inspire, and unite the global community around sustainable practice.

The climate crisis may seem distant from the bedside, but its effects are already being felt across healthcare systems worldwide.

The conversations in this series reveal a powerful message: sustainability and high-quality patient care are not competing priorities. They are interconnected goals. Through research, local initiatives, global collaboration, and professional leadership, intensive care can become part of the solution.

The future of intensive care is not only about saving lives today. It is also about protecting the conditions that allow future generations to thrive.

Thank you for joining us on this journey toward more sustainable intensive care.