As fears of a looming energy crisis grow in Europe, there is little echo of the first pandemic – when governments asked citizens to change how, when and where they moved. This time, the threat is not a virus but a growing security threat caused by the Iran war. The European Commission is now appealing to member states to encourage their citizens to follow voluntary measures to save energy, especially in the transport sector as the fear of power shortages will increase.
EU Energy Chief Dan Jørgensen has sent a letter to the member states of the Ministers of State for Energy, seen by Politicsasking them to consider “voluntary measures to maintain demand… particularly targeting the transport sector.”
Energy Ministers held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the energy crisis. Europe’s transport sector is heavily dependent on the Persian Gulf for more than 40% of jet fuel and diesel supplies and Politico reports that there are growing fears that the war will not end as quickly as expected.
The International Energy Agency has put forward Energy Saving Recommendations
Indeed, the International Energy Agency has a list of demand reduction proposals that focus heavily on road transport, which accounts for 45% of global oil demand, such as reducing highway speeds. Tips also cover working at home, flying and cooking. Many similar measures were introduced during the oil crisis of the 1970s, which included petrol rationing and car-free Sundays.
IEA Executive Director, Fatih Birol, said in the same report, “The war in the Middle East is causing a major energy crisis, including the biggest disruption in the history of the world oil market.
Chancellor Merz of Germany was quoted in X as saying, “The Consequences of the Iran War Germany and Europe will be as bad as the COVID-19 epidemic if it develops. ”
Many Governments have already introduced Energy Conservation Measures
After the closure of the Straits of Hormuz, oil exports from the Gulf countries were disrupted, and there are fuel shortages across many Asian countries, causing many governments to rethink their citizens’ energy consumption and implement government mandates to work at home to save energy:
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of Thailand Non-primary public sector workers work from home with air conditioners set to 26 degrees, and are encouraged to use the stairs instead of elevators.
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The Philippines‘ Civil society workers are now only in the office 4 days a week, and some are working 4 days a week.
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To Pakistanthe government announced a mandatory domestic work policy for 50% of civil servants and proposed that the private sector do the same. Universities are increasingly moving to online classes.
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To Vietnamall citizens have been asked to work from home if possible and switch to bicycles instead of electric cars.
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New York Times reports of how South Korea they are told to take short showers to reduce energy consumption.
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In response to the country’s lack of fuel, these are Laos moved from a five-day school week to a three-day week; the academic year will be extended as necessary to ensure that children cover everything they need for the exams.
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Yes Bloomberg reports that Egypt ordered shops and restaurants to close early, with shops closing at 9pm five days a week. On weekends, they may close at ten o’clock at night, which is late for Egyptian citizens.
For many, this appeal by governments brings to mind the emergency restrictions and altered norms of 2020—remote work, grounded planes, quieter streets. The issue may be different, but the basic question sounds familiar: how willing are we to walk less, cancel flights, or exchange a car for a train or a bicycle in the coming weeks, not to save our lives but to save energy?
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