This technical paper provides an overview of issues relating to the topic of innovative financing for technology transfer related to climate change. It also includes an analysis of progress in the area of innovative financing, both in the public and private sectors, and a synthesis of successes and failures. The paper argues that creating innovative options for financing the transfer of environmentally sound technologies implies finding new ways to ‘connect’ actors and interests, and not just designing or developing new financing products. An important aspect of this crossover between the financing community and the climate change community is the attention given to elements of financial viability which are at the core of many climate change projects. This paper elaborates on these developments and explores options, with cases and examples from mitigation and adaptation practice.