The atmospheric concentration of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) has been increasing since the start of industrialization in the mid 19th century, and the rate is increasing. It is highly unlikely that fossil fuel combustion, the main contributor to anthropogenic CO 2 , will be replaced in the foreseeable future. Therefore, CO 2 capture and storage offer a new set of options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to the current strategies of improving energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewable energy resources. Carbon dioxide selective membranes provide a viable energy-saving alternative for CO 2 separation, since membranes do not require any phase transformation. This review examines various CO 2 selective membranes for the separation of CO 2 and N 2 , CO 2 and CH 4 , and CO 2 and H 2 from flue or fuel gas. This review attempts to summarize recent significant advances reported in the literature about various CO 2 selective membranes, their stability, the effect of different parameters on the performance of the membrane, the structure and permeation properties relationships, and the transport mechanism applied in different CO 2 selective membranes. Finally, the future direction for CO 2 selective membranes is proposed. Hybrid organic-inorganic membranes have become an expanding field of research, as the introduction of organic molecules can improve the characteristics of a matrix. Hydrotalcite-type materials, perovskite-type oxides, lithium zirconate, and lithium silicate are also suggested as candidate materials for high temperature CO 2 selective membranes.