The use of CO2 as a carbon feedstock will be an important component of a sustainable post-fossil-fuel future. CO2 can be electrochemically reduced into variety of products including hydrocarbons, alcohols, carbon monoxide (CO) and f ormate (HCOO -). Recent techno-economic analyses suggest that two-electron reduction of CO2 into C1 products (i.e., HCOO -and CO) presents the best route to economic feasibility in the near future. CO and HCOO -are essential feedstock used in various industrial applications ranging from chemical synthesis (Fisher-Tropsch) to energy conversion (e.g., f uel cells) through existing and emerging technologies. The realization of electrochemical synthesis of these important molecules at large scale will require catalysts with high activity and selectivity to the desired products, exceptional stability, sufficient Earth-abundance, and broad availability. New discoveries of improved catalysts, guided by a detailed understanding of structure-activity relationships, are needed in order to progress toward these targets.