Energy authorities make global plea..but No10 says it’s business as normal

HOUSEHOLDS around the world are being urged to work from home and use the oven less to save energy amid the Middle East war.

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The International Energy Agency is also urging families to cut driving speed limits amid a major hit to oil supplies.

But the British Government has said people should carry on as normal.

The IEA has suggested 10 measures to reduce energy being consumed, covering travel, homes and work habits.

Fatih Birol, executive director, said governments must become more vocal around how energy was being used.

Suggestions include promoting use of public transport, giving private cars access to city centres on alternate days, encouraging car sharing and efficient driving habits, avoiding air travel where possible, especially business flights, and switching to electric cooking. Birol said: “The world has not yet well understood the depth of the energy security challenge we are facing.

“It is much bigger than what we had in the 1970s. It is also bigger than the natural gas price shock we experienced after the Russia's invasion of Ukraine.”

But the UK Government has urged people to go about their business as normal. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said yesterday: “This is the IEA's general advice for countries across the world. It is not in place in the UK.