The line graph given provides information about seriousness of four various environmental issues in average in countries such as China, India, Germany and USA, with figures measured in percentages over a 10-year period.
Overall, throughout the whole period such problems as lack of fresh water and air pollution were considered as the most severe ones, followed by climate change and automobile emissions. Additionally, shortages of fresh water only appeared in 2003, recorded as the newest serious issue.
During the initial 5 years, ranging from 2000 to 2002, all issues concerned over 50%, with the scarcity of fresh water registering the highest level of seriousness, and the climate change the lowest in 2003. Conversely, between 2003 and 2006 concerns about fresh water significantly declined from roughly 70% to almost 60%, while rates of seriousness of remained environmental issues gradually increased; furthermore, concerns about these problems exceeded 60% by 2006.
From 2006 to 2007 all environmental concerns witnessed a general decline. From that point onwards, concerns about shortages of fresh water and air pollution bottom out to approximately 61%, increased until 2009 and declined by 2010. Similarly, climate change and car emissions decreased to about 65% and 52% respectively.