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

of carbon dioxide in four countries - the

UK

,

Sweden

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

It is clear that

the

UK

has by far the highest CO2

emissions

over the period shown. Portugal,

on the other hand

, had

overall

the lowest

emissions

,

although

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

UK

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

Sweden

had average

emissions

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

However

, the

UK

saw a decrease in CO2

emissions

by 4 metric tonnes per person after 40 years.

Sweden

's average

emissions

peaked in 1977 at over 10 metric tonnes and

then

gradually declined.

By contrast

, Italy and Portugal both had more CO2

emissions

. Italy's

emissions

surpassed

Sweden

's after 1987, and in 2007 the

emissions

of Portugal were at the same level as that of

Sweden

.