Based on an evidence gap map on the same topic, it provides a detailed description of the 32 studies that met the strict inclusion criteria, their different implementation modalities and the study designs applied in each case. More importantly, we systematically analyse the outcomes obtained in the studies and provide a critical appraisal of the quality of the evidence.

The review’s results show that the evidence on this topic is still limited and spread across various sectors and interventions, with most evidence in the energy, industrial and agricultural sectors. The role of the private sector in the assessed interventions consists, in most cases, of investments by households and smallholders in adopting alternative energy generation measures (e.g. domestic solar systems, biodigesters). Corporate investments include different forms, including energy efficiency services, GHG emissions treatment equipment or transportation fleet renewal. A significant proportion of the assessed interventions are embedded in or influenced by public policy initiatives that provide important elements of the enabling environment, such as financial, regulatory framework or tax incentives.

The majority of the 32 reviewed studies found significant positive effects from the interventions regarding climate change mitigation and other co-impacts. However, the limited number of causal studies and the limited external validity in a significant number of papers pose significant challenges for drawing generalizable conclusions