Playing my part: How to save money, reduce reliance on Russian energy, support Ukraine and help the planet

Citizens are at the heart of European efforts to reduce gas and oil demand in the face of the energy crisis set off by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. People across the European Union want to take action. Using less energy is a concrete way for Europeans to reduce their energy bills, cut Europe’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels, demonstrate solidarity with the Ukrainian people, and support climate action.

The European Commission and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have developed an easy-to-use guide explaining simple steps citizens can take to save energy now. These actions draw on the IEA’s recent 10-Point Plan to Reduce the European Union’s Reliance on Russian Natural Gas and 10-Point Plan to Cut Oil Use. The new IEA guide also identifies actions that national and local governments can take to unlock even more energy savings and support consumer action. Citizens and governments can achieve major positive impacts if we act decisively and act together.

The European Commission and the IEA are working together to raise public awareness about the benefits of energy conservation measures – and to do so in consultation with key stakeholders, including consumers, workers and leaders in national and local governments.

On 21 April at 11:00 AM CET, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol and European Commission Director-General for Energy Ditte Juul Jørgensen will host a roundtable discussion about the initial version of the IEA’s new guide for how consumers can save energy. Participants in the livestreamed event will include Leonore Gewessler, Federal Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology of Austria; Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications of Ireland; Claude Turmes, Minister for Energy and Spatial Planning of Luxembourg; Patrick Graichen, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action; Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities; Monique Goyens, Director General of BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation; and Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation.

Based on the discussions at the event and broader feedback from stakeholders in the following weeks, the IEA and European Commission will publish an enhanced set of key energy saving measures.

The recorded session of this event is available on DG Energy's YouTube channel.