The line graph illustrates the number of vehicles in England and Wales between 2000 and 2020, while the bar chart compares the amount of CO₂ emissions produced by four types of vehicles over the same period.
Overall, the number of vehicles increased steadily throughout the twenty-year period, and cars consistently produced the highest level of CO₂ emissions. In contrast, buses and trucks generated relatively low emissions, although both showed a gradual rise.
In 2000, there were approximately 25 million vehicles in England and Wales. This figure rose to around 30 million in 2005, followed by a sharper increase to just over 40 million by 2015. The upward trend continued, reaching about 65 million vehicles in 2020, representing more than a twofold increase over the span of two decades.
Regarding CO₂ output, cars were by far the largest contributors in all three years. Emissions from cars rose slightly from 2.7 tonnes in 2000 to around 3 tonnes in 2010, before reaching roughly 3.2 tonnes in 2020. Vans produced the second-highest emissions, growing steadily from 0.6 tonnes in 2000 to 1.2 tonnes by 2020. Buses emitted comparatively little CO₂, increasing marginally from 0.2 tonnes to 0.3 tonnes during the period. Trucks also generated low levels, rising from 0.3 tonnes in 2000 to about 0.5 tonnes in 2020.
In summary, while the number of vehicles nearly tripled, CO₂ emissions from all vehicle categories experienced moderate growth, with cars remaining the dominant source of pollution.