Abstract: The invention relates to a method for converting carbon dioxide or bicarbonates into formic acid derivatives, i.e. formate salts, formate esters, and formamides, using molecular hydrogen and a catalytic system comprising a cobalt complex of cobalt salt and at least one tripodal, tetradentate ligand. The catalyst complex can be used as a homogeneous catalyst. The invention further relates to the cobalt complexes per se.