The report, The Clean Air Dividend of Net Zero, finds decarbonisation across transport, buildings, industry and power generation could avoid 264,000 premature deaths and provide a £7.7bn boost to the economy.

Jane Burston, chief executive of the Clean Air Fund, said: ‘Clean air action delivers some of the strongest returns in public policy. Cleaning our air will boost our economy and our health while tackling climate change. Improved air quality is one of the most significant and immediate benefits of net zero delivery, with the potential to add nearly £8bn to the economy by 2050.'

Air pollution is the UK's biggest environmental risk to human health, costing more than £500m a week in ill health, NHS care and productivity losses. 

Adriana Curca, CBI economics director, said: ‘While the health impacts of air pollution are well understood, this research highlights the scale of the associated economic benefits that can be achieved through improved air quality. Our analysis shows that cleaner air resulting from the net zero transition could deliver substantial gains to the UK economy through improved workforce health, reduced pressure on health services and fewer working days lost to illness. 

‘These findings demonstrate that the benefits of decarbonisation extend beyond emissions reductions alone, generating measurable value for people, businesses and the wider economy.'