<p>The reduction of global carbon emissions and the achievement of carbon neutrality have become the focus of addressing climate change and global warming. Electrochemical CO₂ reduction (CO₂RR), as a technology that can efficiently convert CO₂ into value-added products, is receiving widespread attention. This article reviews the current research status of Cu/metal oxide heterostructures in the field of electrochemical reduction of CO₂. The review first introduces the importance of electrochemical reduction of CO₂ and the application potential of Cu/metal oxide heterostructures in this field. Subsequently, a comprehensive discussion is presented on the exploration of various Cu/metal oxide heterostructures and their corresponding structure-performance relationship, with particular emphasis on the catalysts' activity, selectivity, stability and the nature of active sites. Lastly, the review provides an overview of the current research challenges and future development trends in this field.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>