A method for generating a carboxylic acid from carbon dioxide (CO2), the method includes (a) feeding a gas stream having the CO2 to a first reactor having a base (MOH) to produce bicarbonate (MHCO3) and (b) feeding the MHCO3 generated in the first reactor to a second reactor disposed downstream from the first reactor. The second reactor includes a catalyst. The method also includes (c) contacting the MHCO3 with hydrogen gas in the presence of the catalyst in the second reactor to produce formate (HCOOM) and (d) electrolysing an aqueous solution of a metal halide (MCl) in a chloro-alkali electrolysis reactor fluidly coupled to the first reactor, the second reactor, or both to produce at least a portion of the MOH, the hydrogen gas and Cl2. The portion of the MOH is used in step (a) and the carboxylic acid is formic acid (HCOOH).