A guide to addressing climate change in product standards has been published by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).
Some products, particularly those with long lifetimes, such as building materials, could be affected by climate change, the guide states, while others, such as machinery, might operate only within specific temperature limits.
The CEN said climate change would require product designers to consider not only past conditions, but also those predicted by climate models. Design decisions that do not take account of climate risks over the whole lifecycle may result in products that are not fit for purpose, the CEN warned.
It also said the supply of raw materials may be affected if they are sourced from regions particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Martin Baxter, chief policy advisor at IEMA, said that, although the guide was aimed at those writing product standards, it also contained useful content for practitioners.