Abstract: A system and method for reducing carbon dioxide in an electrochemical cell comprising a first cell compartment, a second cell compartment, and a membrane positioned between the first cell compartment and the second cell compartment is disclosed. The method may include introducing a feed containing a carbon dioxide gas and a feed of catholyte at a cathode positioned in the first cell compartment, in which the cathode contains a gas diffusion electrode comprising a carbon cloth or graphitized carbon weave and wherein the carbon dioxide gas is directed through carbon fibers of the carbon cloth or graphitized carbon weave. The method may further include introducing a feed of anolyte at an anode positioned in the second cell compartment and applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode of the electrochemical cell to thereby reduce the carbon dioxide to a reduction product.