In order to compensate for the three million barrels of oil per day coming from Russia which are likely to be lacking from April, the International Energy Agency has submitted some recommendations on mobility and practices.
How to compensate for the Russian oil which will be lacking in world consumption? Even if Iran could in the coming weeks deliver, conditionally, millions of barrels, Russia remains the world’s largest exporter, with eight million barrels a day of crude oil and refined products destined for the rest of the world. With the war in Ukraine, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has estimated that up to three million Russian barrels per day will be short from April. “The prospect of large-scale disruptions to Russian production threatens to create a global oil supply shock,” therefore predicts the IEA, which gives its ten recommendations in order to “reduce oil consumption”. Recommendations for governments and companies which are urgent because for them to be effective, they must therefore be followed within two weeks.
Reduce speed limits on the motorway by at least 10 km/h
While recalling that “many countries have [adopté la mesure] during the 1973 oil crisis, including the United States and several European countries”, the AIE assures “that reducing speed limits on motorways by 10 km/h from current levels can significantly reduce fuel consumption for cars”. Result: 290,000 barrels of oil per day less if it only concerns cars, up to 430,000 barrels if heavy goods vehicles are also concerned.
Telecommuting up to three days a week where possible
The pandemic had popularized telework, the energy crisis could perpetuate it. This is the measure presented as the most effective: concretely, one day of teleworking would represent a saving of 170,000 barrels of oil per day, and 500,000 barrels when it is pushed to three days. While the IEA estimates that a third of jobs in rich countries can be done at home, oil savings would be even greater in the United States than in Europe, in particular because of the higher consumption of vehicles overseas. Atlantic. In addition, vehicles use more fuel in summer than in winter, due to air conditioning.
Cars in the garage every Sunday
While this measure is well known to the French, especially in Paris, the AIE recalls that car-free Sundays have already been introduced in Switzerland, the Netherlands and even West Germany during the 1973 oil crisis. air quality, reduction of heat islands, lower noise pollution… The decision has other beneficial aspects by ricochet, assures the agency: “Car-free Sundays promote the adoption of walking and cycling, [des mobilités] that generate a positive ripple effect throughout the week.” The provision applied every Sunday in major cities would amount to 380,000 barrels of oil saved, and 95,000 for one Sunday a month.
Lower public transport prices and encourage walking and cycling
Recent examples “have shown that reduced or free public transport fares lead to increased ridership”, says the IEA, taking the example of New Zealand, which has just decided to cut public transport fares by half for the next three months in response to high fuel prices. In France, Dunkirk, Clermont-Ferrand or more recently Douai have for their part made their networks free.
The AIE also calls for greater flexibility for employers with regard to working hours in order to avoid peak hours, but also for low-emission zones such as Paris or London, an incentive for more walking and bicycles, or even shared micromobility solutions. Certainly short-term measures, but which would save 330,000 barrels of oil per day.
Alternating traffic in major cities
Alternately authorizing even and odd plates depending on the day is an old measure that has proven itself in many countries, including France, recalls the IEA. If alternating traffic is applied two days a week in major cities with a good public transport network, 210,000 barrels of oil per day can be saved in the short term. However, the law is not really fair, since the poorest households often only have one car.
Carpooling and car efficiency
The AIE recommends carpooling “in order to reduce the consumption of oil, but also of money”. The agency highlights a practice facilitated by new dedicated applications. Other simple but effective measures proposed: monitor tire pressure and use less air conditioning. “A roughly 50% increase in the average car occupancy rate in advanced economies on one in ten trips and adopting best practices to reduce fuel consumption can save around 470,000 barrels of short-term oil, calculates the AIE.
Work on freight and goods deliveries
As for the transfer of goods, the IEA explains that a drop in deliveries in “very short deadlines”, optimizing the organization of delivery companies to limit empty trips and better training for truck drivers would save 320,000 barrels of oil per day.
Favor TGVs and night trains rather than planes
High-speed lines connecting cities within 1,000 km of each other as well as night trains are to replace air travel “as far as possible”. “Based on existing high-speed rail infrastructure, around 2% of aviation activity in advanced economies could be redirected to high-speed rail,” says the IEA. France is also widely cited as an example, in particular for its decision to stop flights like Paris-Nantes or Paris-Bordeaux, even if the choice is not considered sufficiently ambitious by environmental associations. Possible savings: 40,000 barrels of oil per day.
Reduce the number of business trips
The conclusion is clear : “Given the congestion of the planes, the journeys of passengers in premium consume three times more fuel than those in economy class.” The AIE therefore advises eliminating some of these business trips and replacing them with videoconferencing. Based on the experience of the Covid-19 crisis, she estimates that a reduction of around two out of five business air trips could reduce oil consumption by 260,000 barrels per day, provided that governments are adapting their laws to avoid empty legs carried out to avoid paying certain taxes when planes are grounded.
Increase the number of electric vehicles
Even if the transition to electric is launched, only 8.4 million electric cars were in circulation in advanced economies, a mode of consumption well below thermal. However, in order to reduce the carbon footprint of individual vehicles, the IEA recommends eventually accelerating the number of electric vehicles in circulation. But, in the short term, to deal with the problems of supply of raw materials and semi-conductors, the priority according to the IEA is already to ensure deliveries of vehicles already purchased. Objective: Based on forecast sales figures over the next four months of electric cars and the most fuel-efficient vehicles, 100,000 barrels of oil per day could be saved.