PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a catalyst or a precursor thereof for hydrogenating carbon dioxide in the presence of a base, in which a transition first round metallic element other than iron, cobalt and nickel is used as a catalyst raw-material.SOLUTION: The catalyst comprises at least any of copper salt and copper complex as an active ingredient. The copper salt is one or more selected from the group consisting of monovalent copper acetate, divalent copper acetate, copper nitrate, copper sulfate, copper trifluoro methane sulfonate, copper halide, copper oxide, copper carbonate, copper hydroxide and alkoxy copper as well as hydrate thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1