The International Energy Agency (IEA) has launched an online "2026 Energy Crisis Policy Response Tracker" to monitor and inform government actions addressing the global energy crisis stemming from the war in the Middle East and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which disrupts a fifth of global oil and gas trade.

Scope and Purpose of the Tracker

The tool systematically catalogues government measures worldwide aimed at conserving energy and providing consumer price relief. It is designed to be a resource for coordinating policy responses and will be updated regularly as the situation evolves.

Documented Demand-Side Conservation Measures

As of its launch, the tracker shows 22 governments have implemented national energy conservation policies. Examples include several Asian nations mandating higher minimum air conditioning temperatures to save electricity, and at least ten governments imposing travel restrictions on public employees. A notable case is India, which is restricting industrial natural gas consumption and accelerating pipeline projects to reduce reliance on Strait of Hormuz imports.

Consumer Price Support Efforts

Dozens of countries have introduced measures to shield consumers from high prices, including subsidies on diesel and gasoline and temporary tax relief.

Additional Government Actions

Beyond formal mandates, the tracker notes several governments have launched public awareness campaigns encouraging citizens to conserve fuel and electricity.

Supply-Side Coordination and Market Impact

On the supply side, the IEA is coordinating a release of 400 million barrels of oil from member states' strategic petroleum reserves. However, this announcement had little immediate impact on global energy markets. The crisis has been described as causing the greatest disruption to global energy supplies in the IEA's history.