Are car-free days and lower speed limits an answer to the world's oil supply problems?

The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Friday urged consumers to travel less, share transport and drive more slowly, part of a 10-point plan to cut oil use as Russia's invasion of Ukraine deepens concerns about supply.

The plan by the Paris-based grouping of 31 industrialized countries - which does not include Russia - underlines the urgency of a supply crunch brought on by sanctions and buyer aversion to Russian oil, which has raised fuel prices.

The recommendations - which include lower speed limits, working from home, car-free days in cities, cheaper public transport and more carpooling - could cut oil demand by 2.7 million barrels a day within four months, the IEA said.

As the bulk of oil demand comes from transport, it said, the plan focuses on "how to use less oil getting people and goods from A to B", drawing on "concrete measures" that have already been used in multiple countries and cities.

In a potential setback to the agency's aim to cut demand, many IEA members states and other countries have implemented, or are discussing, power and transport fuel subsidies.

The agency projected in November that fossil fuel subsidies soared by the highest annual rate ever in 2021 to $440 billion as governments around the world tried to shield consumers from price hikes in a boon to consumption and pollution. L3N2VA38T

Friday's announcement follows a similar 10-point action plan the group put forward earlier this month to cut reliance on Russian gas, in which it said Europe could cut imports of the fuel from Russia by more than a third within a year.

The IEA urged governments to make the changes permanent, not just for economic reasons but in order to combat climate change.

"Sustained reductions are important not only to improve countries’ energy security but also to tackle climate change and reduce air pollution."