It wants other carmakers to join it in a campaign to have a second environmental label on all new cars, which details total emissions information alongside the current label detailing CO2 emissions.

This is already done in the US.

Air quality in the UK is poor – so bad in fact that the UK is facing a fine of up to £300m in the European Court for failing to meet air quality standards.

It's the non-CO2 emissions that are affecting immediate air quality and health, says Volvo.

“We all think we know what a 'green' car is. But the own government's data tells us that if we take all of the emissions from a cars' exhaust into consideration, we get to a very different picture of a 'green' car, and that's because the focus of the green car debate still focuses on CO2 rather than a holistic view of all emissions,” explains Peter Rask, Volvo Car UK managing director.

“I am certainly not telling you we should take our eye off the CO2 ball but we should be putting equal emphasis on the other emissions too.

“Volvo believes that the public need to be educated so they appreciate that C02 affects the environment at large whilst the other emissions - NOx, hydrocarbons and particulates - are polluting the air directly around us and thus affecting our personal health. “

To find more information on CO2 emissions, visit the Fleet News CO2 section.