IELTS: Writing Task 1

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

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The line graph depicts the average level of CO2 (in metric tonnes) emitted by individuals in four European nations, including the UK, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal from 1967 to 2007. In this 50-year period, the UK’s emission level remained the highest on the chart, while Italy’s stayed at the bottom. In addition, the UK and Sweden were on a downward trend as Italy and Portugal’s CO2 level rapidly rose.

In 1967, the leading country - the UK emitted 11 metric tonnes of co2 emission. Sweden followed closely at second place with a minimal gap of 2 metric tonnes. On the other hand, Italy and Portugal barely contributed to CO2 pollution recorded at only 4 and 1 metric tonnes respectively; yet, in the following 20 years, they made at least a twofold jump. Sweden displayed a fluctuating trajectory with a peak at approximately 10.5 metric tonnes in 1977; but after which, abruptly plummeted by almost half to reach around 6 metric tonnes by 1987.

After 1987, both the UK and Italy continued to be on a declining trend reported at about 8.5 and 5.5 metric tonnes respectively by 2007. On the contrary, the other countries were consistently rising in a similar fashion with Italy closing out at 8 metric tonnes and Portugal at 6 metric tonnes. It is clear that by 2007 the Swedish CO2 exhaust level was the same as Portugal’s.