The line graph compares the distribution of average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions released per individual across four distinct countries from 1967 to 2007.
Overall, there was a significant increase in carbon dioxide emissions in both Italy and Portugal. In contrast, both the UK and Sweden initially had the highest rates of carbon dioxide emissions, but these rates declined significantly throughout the period. Despite the decline, the UK remained the largest contributor to carbon dioxide emissions.
In detail, the UK had the highest average carbon dioxide emissions per person, starting at around 11 metric tonnes of CO2 in 1967. However, this number gradually declined to just over 8 metric tonnes of CO2 by 2007. Sweden initially had around 8 metric tonnes of CO2, which rose to just over 10 metric tonnes in 1977 before dramatically decreasing to just under 6 metric tonnes by the end of 2007.
On the other hand, Portugal started with negligible amounts of CO2 emissions. Italy’s emissions began at around 4 metric tonnes of CO2 and rose to approximately 8 metric tonnes. Portugal, on the other hand, reached just under 6 metric tonnes of CO2 in 2007, up from less than 2 tonnes in 1967.