How can we improve the co-benefits of climate finance – an integrative review

Purpose This research investigates the co-benefits of climate finance across environmental, social, economic, and governance dimensions, highlighting how these benefits extend beyond greenhouse gas mitigation to support sustainable development. It synthesizes existing literature to map thematic patterns and proposes the Integrated Climate Co-Benefit Dynamic framework (ICCDF) to guide future research and policy interventions. Design/methodology/approach An integrative review methodology was adopted, combining a bibliometric analysis of 678 Scopus-indexed articles with an in-depth synthesis of 69 publications. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and incorporated keyword co-occurrence analysis, thematic mapping, and the development of aggregated dimensions to uncover interconnections among climate finance co-benefits. Findings Five core thematic clusters emerged: sustainable investment, governance and innovation, renewable energy, decarbonization measures, and co-benefits of climate finance. The analysis demonstrates that climate finance generates synergistic outcomes, improved air quality, enhanced public health, ecosystem restoration, livelihood development, technological innovation, and strengthened governance. These dimensions collectively accelerate progress toward the net-zero transition. The ICCDF conceptualizes how environmental, social, economic, and governance co-benefits reinforce one another through cyclical feedback loops. Research limitations/implications The review is limited to Scopus-indexed journals; future studies should integrate broader databases and examine sector-specific and region-specific co-benefit dynamics. Practical implications The findings guide stakeholders in designing climate finance policies and mechanisms that optimize co-benefits, attract investments, and foster cross-sectoral collaboration. Social implications By emphasizing inclusivity and resilience, the research highlights the potential of climate finance to address inequalities, enhance community well-being and ensure equitable access to sustainable resources. Originality/value This research proposes the ICCDF framework as a novel theoretical contribution. It provides policymakers, funding agencies and researchers with actionable insights to optimize climate finance allocation, strengthen governance structures and maximize sustainable outcomes.