Highlights
China is setting strong frameworks to safeguard soil and groundwater quality.
Brownfield soil quality standards and risk assessment procedures are needed.
Responsibilities of national and local level agencies are being prioritised.
Brownfield databases at national, provincial, municipal, and county levels need setting.
Abstract: Rapid urbanisation in China has resulted in an increased demand for land in towns and cities. To upgrade and modernize, China has also moved many major industries from urban centres to less populated areas. With the high economic value of urban land, the transformation and utilisation of brownfield areas have become important economically and socially. The Chinese government has recognized the need for strong frameworks to safeguard soil and groundwater quality, with brownfield sites a key category for management. Strong scientific, regulatory, and decision-making frameworks are needed and being adopted to ensure practical, careful, and wise use of central and localised government resources, to manage the reuse and regeneration of these brownfield sites. This paper reviews the context, policies and management procedures of developing brownfield sites in countries with a history of brownfield management and discusses China’s current situation and priorities for brownfield governance and redevelopment. These include 1) clarification of brownfield site soil contamination risk control standards and risk assessment procedures, 2) the responsibilities of different national and local agencies, 3) the establishment of a national expert committee to advise on best practice, policy, and process, 4) the use of registered brownfield databases at national, provincial, municipal and county levels, and 5) the set up of soil pollution prevention fund at the provincial level.
Keywords: Brownfield; Urban soils; Management; China; USA; UK
DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2022.04.005
