SCCM Resource Library-Environmental Sustainability in Critical Care: Caring for Human and Planetary Health

Pdf Summary

The summer 2025 issue of CriticalConnections highlights the urgent intersection of climate change and critical care medicine. 2024 marked the warmest year on record since 1850, intensifying health risks from extreme weather such as trauma, heat injury, respiratory diseases, infectious outbreaks, and hospital infrastructure disruptions. For example, Hurricane Helene caused major IV fluid supply shortages in the US. Surveys indicate 70% of healthcare organizations have faced climate-related care disruptions, with projections rising to 86%.<br /><br />Critical care is a major contributor to healthcare’s environmental footprint, producing 3-4 times more carbon emissions than acute care. To address this, the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) formed an Environmental Sustainability in the ICU Task Force, aiming to reduce emissions through diagnostic and medication stewardship, waste reduction, and process optimization. Strategies include shifting from IV to oral medications and reevaluating supply kits. Education, awareness, and small pilot programs can overcome implementation barriers while also saving costs.<br /><br />The 2025 Critical Care Congress showcased sustainability initiatives, such as those by Houston Methodist hospital. Their Saline Flush ICU Go Green program recycles over 70,000 saline flushes annually to reduce plastic waste. Broader hospital programs include sustainable vendor partnerships and staff education. Forming multidisciplinary green teams with clinical and nonclinical members enables baseline carbon footprint assessments, lifecycle analyses, and targeted workgroups on energy, waste, pharmaceuticals, and education.<br /><br />Sustainability in critical care requires transformational change at all levels—incorporating eco-friendly practices into daily care while maintaining quality. The ultimate goal is protecting patient and planetary health now and for future generations, recognizing that a healthy planet underpins community wellbeing and healthcare delivery. Clinicians are encouraged to join efforts like the SCCM task force and knowledge groups to collectively reduce healthcare’s climate impact.

Asset Subtitle

Professional Development, Worldwide Data, 2025, 00:10:26

Asset Caption

"This article was first published in the Summer 2025 issue of Critical Connections.

The 2025 Critical Care Congress featured sessions on environmental sustainability led by critical care professionals from across the globe. One session presented a variety of initiatives that have enabled the Houston Methodist hospital system around Houston, Texas, USA, to become a national leader in environmental sustainability in critical care.

Critical Connections, the critical care industry’s only newsmagazine, provides information on cutting-edge topics in critical care useful to the entire multiprofessional team."

Meta Tag

Content Type Article

Knowledge Area Professional Development and Education

Knowledge Area Worldwide Data

Membership Level Associate

Membership Level Select

Membership Level Professional

Tag Innovation

Tag Economics

Year 2025

Keywords

climate change

critical care medicine

health risks

environmental footprint

Article

carbon emissions

SCCM Environmental Sustainability Task Force

waste reduction

sustainable healthcare

hospital sustainability programs

healthcare climate impact

Professional Development and Education

Worldwide Data

Innovation

Economics

2025

Associate

Select

Professional

	Society of Critical Care Medicine 500 Midway Drive Mount Prospect, IL 60056 USA Phone: +1 847 827-6888 Fax: +1 847 439-7226 Email: support@sccm.org	Contact Us About SCCM Newsroom Advertising & Sponsorship DONATE	MySCCM LearnICU Patients & Families Surviving Sepsis Campaign Critical Care Societies Collaborative	GET OUR NEWSLETTER
© Society of Critical Care Medicine. All rights reserved. \| Privacy Statement \| Terms & Conditions The Society of Critical Care Medicine, SCCM, and Critical Care Congress are registered trademarks of the Society of Critical Care Medicine.