The line graph illustrates the average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person in four countries—United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal—over a 40-year period from 1967 to 2007.
Overall, the CO2 emissions per capita in Italy and Portugal increased significantly, while those in the United Kingdom and Sweden showed a declining trend. Among the four countries, the United Kingdom consistently emitted the highest levels of CO2 per person, whereas Portugal had the lowest levels in the earlier years.
In 1967, the UK had the highest CO2 emissions at around 11 metric tonnes per person, but this figure steadily declined to approximately 9 metric tonnes in 2007. Similarly, Sweden’s emissions started at about 8.5 metric tonnes in 1967, peaking at 10 metric tonnes in 1977, before falling sharply to around 5.5 metric tonnes by the end of the period.
In contrast, Italy and Portugal experienced substantial growth in CO2 emissions. Italy’s figures rose steadily from around 4.5 metric tonnes in 1967 to just under 8 metric tonnes in 2007. Portugal, which started with the lowest emissions at 1.5 metric tonnes in 1967, saw a dramatic increase, reaching around 5.5 metric tonnes by 2007.