The given line graph compares the average carbon dioxide emissions per capita in four European countries (the U.K., Sweden, Italy, and Portugal) from 1967 to 2007.
Overall, the average carbon dioxide emissions per person rose in Italy and Portugal but declined in the U.K. and Sweden over the given period. Notably, the U.K. had the greatest per capita emissions.
Regarding the U.K. and Sweden, these countries initially had the highest carbon dioxide emissions per person. In the U.K., emissions started at about 11 metric tonnes, followed by a gradual decline over the period, settling at nearly 9 metric tonnes in 2007, still maintaining the top position. In Sweden, emissions per person increased rapidly between 1967 and 1977, almost matching the U.K. at around 10.5 metric tonnes in 1977, but then dropped sharply to about 5.8 metric tonnes for the rest of the period.
By contrast, emissions per person in Italy and Portugal were just over 4 and below 2 metric tonnes, respectively. However, in the following years, Italy’s emissions increased significantly, surpassing Sweden in 1987 and stabilizing at nearly 8 metric tonnes between 1997 and 2007. Similarly, Portugal’s emissions rose rapidly throughout the period, equaling those of Sweden by 2007.