A Critical Turning Point.
Helthcare Systems are not Sustainable. We Must Act Now.
Rising demand. Shrinking budgets. A climate crisis unfolding in real time.
Sustainable Emergency Care is not optional, it’s essential.
The System is Failing & it's Hurting Everyone.
Healthcare systems weren’t designed for the world we’re living in now.
Rising demand, stretched teams, growing clinical risk, and the health impacts of climate change have pushed emergency care to the edge. Our systems are doing too much, with too little and the cracks are widening.
In the 1990s, we embraced Evidence-Based Medicine, clinical care rooted in research, outcomes, and patient wellbeing.
But in 2025, many clinicians are caught in a culture of Fear-Based Medicine, driven by litigation risk, system dysfunction, and the memory of worst-case outcomes.
1990's
Evidence Based Medicine
Focused on clinical research and patient outcomes
“Choosing Wisely” campaigns began to reduce overuse
Emergency department overcrowding was episodic
Clinicians had more autonomy in care decisions
Environmental impact was not widely considered
Low-value care was recognised but less prevalent
Burnout affected ~30% of clinicians
Systems were built for efficiency and quality improvement
2025
Unnecessary investigations and over-treatment
Driven by litigation risk and worst-case thinking
Over-testing and defensive ordering are widespread
ED overcrowding is chronic and worsening
Care dictated by risk-minimisation protocols
Healthcare produces 5–8% of global carbon emissions
~30% of all care is still low-value or unnecessary (OECD)
Burnout now exceeds 50–60% in emergency medicine
Systems now react to crisis, not prevent it
The Result?
Unnecessary investigations and over-treatment
Systems stretched beyond capacticy
Resource waste and enviornmental harm
Delays that jeopardise timely care
Burnout, moral injury aand disillusionment
This is Sustainable Emergency Care matters. It's not a theory it’s being built now by clinicians, for clinicians.
Explore Our Response
SustainED
Stay connected and lead the shift to smarter, sustainable emergency care.
Beacon-EM
Join the network driving real-time innovation in emergency medicine.
Submit Your ED's Story
Share how your team is leading change. Inspire others and amplify impact.