Governments from Denmark to Thailand are encouraging people to work from home and reduce travel as a global energy crisis strains fuel supplies. Photo: Jam STA ROSA / AFP via Getty Images
From Denmark to Thailand, authorities are urging people to reduce travel as fuel markets tighten following the escalating conflict involving the United States and Iran, AOL reports.
The crisis is linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important routes for oil and gas shipments. The narrow waterway normally carries around 20 percent of globally traded fuel, meaning any disruption quickly affects markets worldwide.
Governments are now looking for ways to reduce fuel demand.
In Denmark, Climate, Energy and Utilities Minister Lars Aagaard has urged citizens to cut unnecessary energy use.
“If there is any energy consumption that you can do without, if it is not strictly necessary to drive the car, then don’t do it,” he said in comments to Danish media.
Across Asia, similar measures are already being introduced.
Authorities in Thailand are encouraging flexible working arrangements, including working from home and four-day work weeks. Comparable steps have also been suggested in Vietnam, Philippines and Pakistan.
Many Asian economies depend heavily on fuel imports from the Middle East. With supplies under pressure and storage capacity limited in some countries, reducing travel is seen as one of the fastest ways to stretch available fuel.6