Imidazolium　ionic　liquids　(ILs),　imidazolylidene　N-heterocyclic　carbenes　(NHCs),　and　zeolitic　imidazolate　frameworks　(ZIFs)　are　imidazolate　motifs　which　have　been　extensively　investigated　for　CO2　adsorption　and　conversion　applications.　Summarized　in　this　minireview　is　the　recent　progress　in　the　capture,　activation,　and　photochemical　reduction　of　CO2　with　these　three　imidazolate　building　blocks,　from　homogeneous　molecular　entities　(ILs　and　NHCs)　to　heterogeneous　crystalline　scaffolds　(ZIFs).　The　developments　and　existing　shortcomings　of　the　imidazolate　motifs　for　their　use　in　CO2　utilizations　is　assessed,　with　more　of　focus　on　CO2　photoredox　catalysis.　The　opportunities　and　challenges　of　imidazolate　scaffolds　for　future　advancement　of　CO2　photochemical　conversion　for　artificial　photosynthesis　are　discussed.　©　2016　WILEY-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim.