Millions of citizens across Europe have been urged to work from home and drive less amid the energy crisis caused by the Iran war.
Dan Jørgensen, the European commissioner for energy and housing, said on Tuesday that Europe was facing a “very serious situation,” with no end in sight.
Europe Told To Work From Home and Drive Less
Jørgensen urged European Union member nations to encourage citizens to follow the advice from the International Energy Agency, which is to “work from home where possible, reduce highway speed limits by 10 kilometers [an hour] (around 6 mph), encourage public transport, alternate private car access…increase car sharing and adopt efficient driving practices.”
He added: “Even if…peace is here tomorrow, still we will not go back to normal in the foreseeable future…The more you can do to save oil, especially diesel, especially jet fuel, the better we are off,” Jørgensen said, emphasizing that voluntary public cooperation could significantly reduce pressure on strained energy markets.
Ministerial Talks Deliver No Immediate Action
European Union energy ministers ended the crisis talks on Tuesday without agreeing on any concrete measures, even as concerns mount that the world could be heading toward one of the most severe energy crises in modern history.
Politico reported that the expectation going into the meeting was to coordinate action, rather than define a concrete plan, according to two EU diplomats who were in attendance.
No Concrete Decisions, but Promises of Future Measures
Although ministers stopped short of announcing firm next steps, the European Commission indicated it plans to unveil a package of EU‑level measures aimed at strengthening energy security in the near future. Jørgensen said, “This must be the time we finally turn the tide and truly become energy independent.”
A Global Energy Crisis Threatening the World Economy
The urgency of the talks reflects growing fears that the current energy situation could surpass even the oil crisis of the 1970s. Some officials and analysts warn that the economic fallout could even rival the disruption caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran more than a month ago, global energy markets have been thrown into turmoil.
Oil and gas prices have surged by as much as 70 percent, driven largely by supply disruptions in the Persian Gulf.
Around one‑fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes through the region, and significant volumes are now effectively stuck there.
The price increases have rippled across global economies, raising inflation fears, increasing pressure on countries that import energy, and threatening industrial production in Europe and beyond.