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By Jasmine Laws
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Countries across the globe are turning to various measures to cut back on fuel use as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has caused energy prices to surge.
Implementing four-day working weeks, cutting back on travel, promoting public transport, and even closing schools and universities are among the measures countries have implemented as they desperately try to curb fuel consumption as the conflict in the Middle East has led to soaring oil prices.
The International Energy Agency has also agreed to make 400 million barrels of oil from its emergency reserves available to the market to address disruptions, and it has called for a series of other measures amid the crisis, including increasing remote work, lowering highway speed limits and avoiding air travel.
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Why It Matters
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, after which Iran imposed restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route that typically carries about 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.
The disruption has pushed Brent crude oil prices up by more than 50 percent since March began, and many countries across the globe have had to tap into reserves, make major cutbacks on energy and even bring in emergency orders.
In the U.S., gas prices have surged past $4 per gallon for the first time in more than three years, according to data from GasBuddy. Experts have also warned that the cost of bottled water will soon increase, as the oil crisis strains the plastics industry.
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Countries Turning to Four-Day Weeks To Save Fuel
- Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif unveiled plans responding to the global oil crisis earlier this month, whereby both public and private sector workplaces would shift to a four-day working week.
- Philippines: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the temporary implementation of a four-day working week in some executive branch offices beginning on March 9.
- Sri Lanka: The country declared every Wednesday a holiday for public institutions*—including public offices, schools and universities—*to conserve fuel.
Countries Encouraging Remote Work, Reducing Nonessential Travel
- Bangladesh: The country has promoted public transport use and implemented fuel supply limits for vehicles.
- Cambodia: Meetings for civil servants have been moved online.
- Egypt: The country has brought in one day of remote work for the public sector, and it has encouraged public officials to limit travel, while also promoting public transport and asking the public to save fuel.
- European Union Countries: European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen said on April 1 that European Union citizens were encouraged to "work from home where possible, reduce highway speed limits by 10 kilometers [an hour], encourage public transport, alternate private car access ... increase car sharing and adopt efficient driving practices."
- Indonesia: The country has introduced remote working on Fridays for civil servants, and public officials have been told to limit travel.
- Myanmar: Public officials are now working from home on Wednesdays.
- Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's plans included making half of all staff in both public and private sectors work from home, though this does not apply to those working in essential services.
- Thailand: Videoconferencing has been encouraged, and public officials have been told to avoid overseas travel.
- Vietnam: The country has advised citizens to stay at home to avoid nonessential travel and to ride bicycles, carpool and use public transport. It has also encouraged citizens to work from home.
Countries Facing Closures, Reduced Energy Use
- Bangladesh: Public and private universities have been closed.
- Egypt: The country has been closing its administrative capital at 6 p.m. and turning off lighting and electronic devices, and shops have been asked to close from 9 p.m. during the week and 10 p.m. on weekends.
- Pakistan: The country closed schools and colleges across the country for two weeks, and higher education classes have been moved online.
- Sri Lanka: There have been restrictions on energy use, as offices have been told to maintain air-conditioning levels at 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit) and to have a one- to two-hour switch off daily.
- Thailand: Officials have been asked to take the stairs instead of using elevators, and offices have been encouraged to keep temperatures at 79 degrees Fahrenheit, reducing air-conditioning use.
What Happens Next
Oil prices are expected to remain volatile, most likely continuing to rise, until safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is restored.
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