Healthcare Sustainability to Address Climate Change: Call for Action to the Infectious Diseases Community.

This article focuses on the role of infectious diseases (ID) professionals in advancing healthcare sustainability to reduce the US healthcare system's disproportionate contribution to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) and climate change. Healthcare sustainability is defined as efforts to decrease GHGe, waste, and pollutants generated during healthcare delivery, with parallels drawn to established antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention programs. The article proposes strategies for ID societies and practitioners, including integrating climate change education into training, expanding research and funding opportunities, forming formal sustainability committees, and advocating for system-wide changes to reduce emissions. It highlights the "WE ACT" framework—addressing Waste, Energy and water, Agricultural/food cycle and anesthetic gas, Chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and Transportation—as key domains for sustainable healthcare delivery. The article also emphasizes the potential for cost savings, improved public health outcomes, and enhanced recruitment in ID through leadership in sustainability efforts.