Atmospheric carbon dioxide is an important and long-lived greenhouse gas. Satellite measurements of the distribution of the global atmospheric CO₂ would get its continuous change. Improved quantitative understanding of the distribution and variability of the sources and sinks of CO₂ and the global carbon cycle would be done, furthermore, the research and prediction on the global climate change would be enhanced. The remote sensing of the atmospheric CO₂ from instrumentation aboard satellite has been a new area of research. The research on the remote sensing of the measurements of the distribution of the atmospheric CO₂ from satellite is summarily commented in this paper. Firstly, the temporal and spatial distribution and variability of atmospheric CO₂ concentration monitored by direct instrument observations is presented, then the main methods and results of satellite remote sensing measurements of atmospheric CO₂ concentration are reviewed, including the measurements of the near infrared reflected sunlight or the thermal infrared emission spectroscopy and the combination of both measurement, finally the summary and prospects are discussed briefly.