Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) sector: Lessons learnt from Indonesia and the European Union

Abstract In pursuit of climate neutrality targets, Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU)‐based Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) has emerged as a key mitigation measure for enhancing greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and removal efforts at national and regional levels. Scientific evidence underscores the inevitability of deploying CDR to counterbalance hard‐to‐abate emissions from other carbon‐intensive sectors. However, a looming legal concern surrounding CDR deployment arises: the potential for overreliance on this technology, which could drive countries away from the primary mitigation scheme, namely, the deep reduction of GHG. Additionally, previous studies have not specifically touched upon deploying FOLU‐based CDR within national and regional contexts. Thus, this article seeks to fill that gap by conducting a comparative study between two legal systems—Indonesia and the European Union (EU)—that have adopted dedicated FOLU‐based policy packages as their primary strategies for achieving the net‐zero targets. This comparative analysis highlights the similarities and differences between Indonesian and EU approaches, drawing lessons from best practices in both jurisdictions. The findings reveal that stringent targets and adaptable legal frameworks are essential preconditions for robust CDR governance. Notably, the Indonesian experience offers a groundbreaking contribution by incorporating a civil liability system, thereby expanding the CDR governance dimension beyond direct regulatory approaches.