Sustainable Cardiology: From Environmental Risk to Cardiovascular Responsibility
The Cumberland Hotel, London, UK
The ESC Cardiovascular Round Table meeting on Decarbonising Cardiology: From Environmental Risk to Cardiovascular Responsibility took place on 16–17 June 2026. The event brought together patients, ESC leaders, industry representatives and healthcare professionals to explore the health issues associated with harmful environmental behaviours and possible solutions. The goal was to highlight how such behaviours can adversely affect cardiovascular health and overall well-being. The session concluded with a collaborative discussion aimed at identifying potential recommendations.
All available recordings and presentation materials can now be accessed below.
Hear insights from the experts
Discover the perspectives of the attendees through a series of short, thought-provoking videos, which reveal why environmental challenges are increasingly becoming cardiovascular challenges, and why sustainable cardiology must be part of the solution.
Programme
The resources from the event are now available. Browse the slides from the session links below.
- 13:00–13:05: Welcome from the CRT Chairpersons
Speakers: Cecilia Linde & Bettina Kraus (BI) - 13:05–13:15: Information from the facilitator
Speaker: Tamsin Rose
13:15–14:30: Session 1.1 – Environmental risk factors and cardiovascular health: Setting the stage
Moderated by: Cecilia Linde and Bettina Kraus (BI)
- 13:15–13:25: Environmental stressors as cardiovascular risk factors: from evidence to responsibility
Speaker: Thomas Muenzel - 13:25–13:35: Patient’s view on the impact of environmental stressors on cardiovascular health and quality of life
Speaker: Konstantinos Chortis (ESC Patient Forum) - 13:35–13:45: Impact of the cardiovascular field on the environment
Speaker: Tom de Potter - 13:45–13:55: ESC environmental responsibility
Speaker: Jean François Riffaud - 13:55–14:05: Industrial production in the cardiovascular field and its environmental impact
Speaker: Shuo Wang (Servier) - 14:05–14:25: Panel discussion: Is environmental sustainability a medical, ethical, or political obligation?
14:30–18:30: Session 1.2 – Learning by example: successful implementations and future regulations?
Moderated by: Paul Dendale, Bettina Kraus (BI)
- 14:30–14:40: Sustainable healthcare systems & carbon-intensive cardiology
Speaker: Jeffrey Lau - 14:40–15:00: Green innovation from industry partners – towards lower environmental impact across healthcare
Speakers: Shikha Pillai (Siemens Healthineers), Bernd Steffens (BI) (via Zoom) - 15:00–15:10: Current and future regulatory status of medical device reprocessing in the EU
Speaker: Frederic Sacher (via Zoom) - 15:10–15:20: From Brussels to the bedside: Why European environmental policies matter to the ESC – present and future actions
Speaker: Piotr Szymanski - 15:20–15:40: Panel discussion
- 15:40–15:45: Instructions for breakout sessions
Speaker: Tamsin Rose
16:10–17:10 – Breakout sessions - Topic: What are the key barriers to reducing the carbon impact?
Facilitators: Shikha Pillai (Siemens Healthineers) & Cecilia Linde
- Group discussions
- Group 1: Key barriers for the ESC
- Room: Remix 2
- Lead: Ola Vedin (AstraZeneca)
- Rapporteur: Ilonca Vaartjes
- Group 2: Key barriers for industry
- Room: Studio 13
- Lead: Klaus Kulbursch (Roche Pharma)
- Rapporteur: Ece Kizilkilic
- Group 3: Key barriers for hospitals
- Room: Studio 14
- Lead: Paul Dendale
- Rapporteur: Piotr Szymanski
- Group 1: Key barriers for the ESC
- 17:10–17:20: Mini break
- 17:20–17:30: Report from breakout session 1
Rapporteur: Ilonca Vaartjes - 17:30–17:40: Report from breakout session 2
Rapporteur: Ece Kizilkilic - 17:40–17:50: Report from breakout session 3
Rapporteur: Piotr Szymanski - 17:50–18:00: The cost of inaction: consequences for healthcare systems and patients
Speaker: Ana Abreu - 18:00–18:20: Panel discussion
- 18:20–18:30: Wrap-up and summary Day 1 – Outlook to Day 2
Speaker: Cecila Linde, Tamara Krcmar (Servier)
End of day 1
The resources from the event are now available. Browse the slides from the session links below.
08:30–12:30 | Meeting room Remix 2
- 08:30–08:35: Welcome and short summary of day 1
Speakers: Fielder Camm & Tamara Krcmar (Servier)
08:35–11:40: Session 2.1 – Measuring Impact: Metrics, Data, Accountability
Moderated by: Fielder Camm and Tamara Krcmar (Servier)
- 08:35–08:45: Which key metrics should be considered when evaluating the impact of cardiology in the cath lab at the hospital level?
Speaker: Emma Svennberg - 08:45–08:55: ESC impact and initiative
Speaker: Ghislain Daval - 08:55–09:05: How do I ensure environmental safety in my research lab?
Speaker: Cinzia Perrino - 09:05–09:15: How should the ESC include sustainability in its guidelines recommendation?
Speaker: Stefan James - 09:15–09:30: Panel discussion
09:40–10:40 – Breakout sessions - Brainstorming for actions – list what are the three to five priorities for each
Facilitators: Paul Dendale & Bettina Kraus (BI)
- Group discussions
- Group 1: What can ESC do more?
- Room: Remix 2
- Lead: Drew Macgregor (Bayer)
- Rapporteur: Catherine Ross
- Group 2: What can the industry do more?
- Room: Studio 13
- Lead: Maria Ripa (Novo Nordisk)
- Rapporteur: Amy Newton (Medtronic)
- Group 3: What can hospitals do more?
- Room: Studio 14
- Lead: Jeffrey Lau
- Rapporteur: Andre Zigler (Roche Diagnostics)
- Group 1: What can ESC do more?
- 11:10–11:20: Report from breakout session 1
Rapporteur: Catherine Ross - 11:20–11:30: Report from breakout session 2
Rapporteur: Joris Van Vugt (Viatris) - 11:30–11:40: Report from breakout session 3
Rapporteur: Andre Zigler (Roche Diagnostics)
11:45–12:50: Session 2.2 – From vision to implementation: the cardiovascular road map for sustainable care
Moderated by: Fielder Camm & Tamara Krcmar (Servier)
- 11:45–11:55: Climate and cardiovascular health, turning environmental challenges into opportunities
Speaker: Sanjay Rajagopalan - 11:55–12:05: How do we communicate environmental risks to patients?
Speaker: Paule Dendale - 12:05–12:20: Fire side chat
Speaker: Tasmin Rose - 12:20–12:30: Wrap-up & conclusion
Speakers: Fielder Camm & Bettina Kraus (BI)
End of Day 2
Academic Chairpersons
Industry Chairpersons
Doctor Bettina Kraus
Boehringer Ingelheim
Mrs Tamara Krcmar
Servier
Mrs Shikha Pillai
Siemens Healthineers
Session 1.2 – Learning by Example: Successful Implementations and Future Regulations
Session 2.1 – Measuring Impact: Metrics, Data, Accountability
Session 2.2 – From Vision to Implementation: The Cardiovascular Roadmap for Sustainable Care