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British and European citizens will have to work from home part of the week, abandon business flights and slow down driving to help break the Kremlin’s grip on global energy markets, according to the influential International Energy Agency (IEA).
The measures, set out as part of a 10-point plan to reduce Russia’s oil demand, also include advice for people to gather with friends and family, swap flights for trains and walk and bike more. .
Governments should consider introducing ‘car-free Sundays’ in cities and allowing people in urban areas to drive only on alternative days, the IEA added.
If the 10-point plan is fully implemented, Europe could cut oil demand by 2.7 million barrels per day over the next four months, the IEA said. That is equivalent to the total oil demand of all cars in China.
The IEA said this would protect Europe from a potential supply shock from Russia, which provides 30-40 percent of Europe’s demand for oil and gas.
Ten steps to cut Russia’s oil demand
- Reduce the speed limit on the highway by at least 10 km/h
Impact: Saves approximately 290,000 barrels per day (kb/d) of oil use from cars and an additional 140 kb/day from trucks- Work from home up to three days a week whenever possible
Impact: One day a week saves about 170 kb/s; three days save about 500 kb/d- Carless week in the city
Impact: Every Sunday you save about 380 kb/s; one Sunday in a month saves 95 kb/d- Make use of public transport cheaper and encourage micromobility, walking and cycling
Impact: save approx. 330 kb/d- Alternative private vehicle access to big city streets
Impact: save approx. 210 kb/d- Improve carpooling and implement practices to reduce fuel use
Impact: save about 470 kb/d- Promote cargo truck driving and delivery of goods efficiently.
Impact: saves approximately 320 kb/d- Use night trains and high-speed trains instead of planes whenever possible
Impact: saves about 40 kb/d- Avoid business air travel where there are alternative options
Impact: save approx. 260 kb/d- Strengthen the adoption of electric vehicles and be more efficient
Impact: save about 100 kb/d
“As a result of Russia’s heinous aggression against Ukraine, the world may face its biggest shock to oil supply in decades, with major implications for our economy and society,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.
“IEA member states have stepped in to support the global economy with the early release of millions of barrels of emergency oil reserves, but we can also take action on demand to avoid the risk of a crippling oil crisis,” said Dr. Birol.
“Our 10-Point Plan shows that this can be done through steps that have been tried and tested in many countries.”
The most effective measure would be to encourage people to stop traveling and work from home up to three days a week, a move that could cut oil demand by 500,000 barrels per day, the IEA said.
The next strongest step would be to encourage more people to gather with friends, family and colleagues, which could save about 470,000 barrels per day, the IEA said.
Most actions will result in an immediate, but temporary reduction in oil demand. The IEA said countries should also focus on reducing long-term demand, moving homes away from heating oil, speeding up the transition to electric cars and increasing the efficiency of trucks and vans.
The advice follows a similar 10-point plan laid out by the IEA this month to cut gas demand, prompting households to lower their thermostats to 1C, while the government is being asked to increase investment in renewable energy and pumps.
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