China's oil consumption alone is growing 10 percent a year.

Still, that is only 7 percent of America's oil consumption.

"This is a small but important way for government to do its part to reduce oil consumption," he said.

Still, China will account for a large share of the increase in the world's oil consumption over the next decade.

Solar will have little, if any, effect on oil consumption.

Environmental groups and other critics said the plan would do little to slow oil consumption.

But experts say oil consumption is likely to be flat over the same period.

Japanese industry has made a real effort to reduce energy use and particularly to cut oil consumption.

The G7 leaders agreed to work together to break the link between oil consumption and economic growth.

American oil consumption increased by more than 800,000 barrels a day from 1985 to 1987.