The graph below shows average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

The line graph compares the average

emissions

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of carbon dioxide in four countries - the

UK

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,

Sweden

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, Italy and Portugal - over a period of 40 years.

It is clear that

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the

UK

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has by far the highest CO2

emissions

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over the period shown. Portugal,

on the other hand

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, had

overall

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the lowest

emissions

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,

although

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a slow but steady rise can be observed. In 1967, each inhabitant of the

UK

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produced around 11 metric tonnes of CO2, which was significantly more than people in other regions. Italy and

Sweden

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had average

emissions

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of around 9 and 4.5 respectively. Portugal's residents generated only a negligible amount, just 1 metric tonne per person.

However

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, the

UK

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saw a decrease in CO2

emissions

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by 4 metric tonnes per person after 40 years.

Sweden

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's average

emissions

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peaked in 1977 at over 10 metric tonnes and

then

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gradually declined.

By contrast

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, Italy and Portugal both had more CO2

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. Italy's

emissions

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surpassed

Sweden

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's after 1987, and in 2007 the

emissions

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of Portugal were at the same level as that of

Sweden

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.