Solar thermal catalytic reduction technology is an important and emerging technical route for carbon dioxide utilization, and different catalysts can realize the conversion of CO_2 to CO, CH_4, HCOOH, MeOH and synthetic gas. During the conversion process, the condition of light-induced hot-electron, as well as the heating system in a certain thermal environment is also affected by photo-thermal conversion efficiency, material selectivity, and system structure and working parameters, which directly determines the overall conversion efficiency. This article analyzes the scientific and technological issues, challenges, and needs relating to thermal-driven CO_2 catalytic conversion. The reaction thermodynamics and dynamic mechanisms of CO_2 thermochemical conversion, as well as major progress in the development of new reactors and materials, are systematically summarized. It is pointed out that considering the matching energy spectrum characteristics and light combining thermal catalysts could achieve a high conversion rate and high selectivity under low energy input conditions. CO_2 hydrogenation to C_1+ and C_2+ fuels production can effectively expand the scale of solar photo-thermal coupling utilization, and making it in line with the chemical industry has important research values and broad application prospects.