Work from home and slow down on the road: world’s energy watchdog advises emergency measures as oil prices rise

IEA makes 10 recommendations to help households and businesses prepare for a drawn-out disruption to energy markets

The world’s energy watchdog has advised governments to reduce highway speeds and encouraged workers to carpool or, ideally, work from home to combat soaring oil prices and impending fuel shortages caused by the Middle East conflict.

It has also recommended countries consider limiting car access to designated zones in large cities, by giving vehicles with odd-numbered plates access on different weekdays to those with even-numbered plates.

Work from home where possible to save petrol.

Reduce highway speed limits by at least 10km/h to reduce fuel usage.

Encourage public transport to reduce oil demand.

Limit car access to roads in large cities through a number-plate rotation scheme.

Increase car sharing.

Encourage efficient driving for commercial vehicles through load optimisation and vehicle maintenance.

Divert LPG use from transport to preserve it for essential needs like cooking.

Avoid air travel where possible.

Encourage electric cooking and other options to reduce reliance on LPG.

Help industrial facilities switch between different petrochemical feedstocks to free up LPG.