[Summary of the S1 guideline on sustainability in intensive care and emergency medicine].

Abstract

Background: Man-made climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the future. The course is being set in the current generation. As the healthcare sector contributes a considerable proportion of greenhouse gas emissions, measures to counteract this must be introduced as a matter of urgency. A guideline is therefore necessary as an initial recommendation for action in the intensive care and emergency medicine sector.

Methods: As part of the guideline program of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF e. V.), an S1 guideline was developed with the participation of 12 professional societies and initiatives, and published in October 2024. The guideline group defined relevant key topics and carried out a systematic search of the literature; due to the S1 classification, no separate evidence review was carried out. The classification of the recommendations took place in a formal consensus-building process.

Results: The guideline contains 73 recommendations for the implementation of sustainable approaches in intensive care and emergency medicine. These are recommendations that concern both the interprofessional team in the departments and the organizational structure of the hospital.

Conclusion: The guideline shows that there are already relevant and concrete possibilities for more sustainable work in intensive care and emergency medicine. However, there is a need for further research (e.g., detailed analyses, such as life cycle assessment) on how exactly to reduce the environmental impact of medical facilities, while maintaining high-quality patient care.