Risk-based management of contaminated land in the UK: Lessons for China? Qishi Luo a , Philip Catney b, * , David Lerner c a Shanghai Academy of Environmental Science, Shanghai 200233, PR China b School of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy, Keele University, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 5BG, UK c Groundwater Protection and Restoration Group, Kroto Research Institute, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S3 7HQ, UK article info Article history: Received 21 November 2006 Received in revised form 7 April 2008 Accepted 6 May 2008 Available online 16 June 2008 Keywords: Contaminated land Policy transfer Risk-based management Risk assessment UK China abstract The management of contaminated land is now assuming greater attention in Chinese debates on envi- ronmental governance. However, the existing management system appears ineffective as it lacks a clear policy framework and technical basis. In the United Kingdom (UK), contaminated land issues are dealt with through a risk-based approach. This approach emphasizes the application of risk approaches in both technical and integrated management systems. Conceptually, this paper outlines generic issues related to transferring programmes from one place to another. We argue that too much emphasis has been placed on the barriers to effective transfer, rather than focusing on methods of abstracting lessons for appli- cation in foreign settings. We then examine the Chinese system and its problems in managing con- taminated land before turning to the UK risk-based approach to see what lessons can be learned from it. Four aspects are analyzed and compared: legislative and policy framework; administrative structure and capacity; technical approaches; and incentive strategy. Based on the experience of the UK in practice, some suggestions are then proposed for China in order to improve its management of contaminated land. We suggest that this should include: a focus on the problem sites; development of a risk-based technical approach and integrated management system; the introduction of financial incentives; and the use of planning control as a management strategy. It is believed that a risk-based integrated management approach may be helpful for China to achieve sustainable solutions for contaminated land. Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction In recent years the issue of contaminated land has become a major concern in China. Water and air pollution have had greater attention and, as a result, the regulatory system for contaminated land remains largely undeveloped. This lack of attention has meant that the issue lacks a clear framework in terms of policy; admin- istrative structure and capacity; technical methods; and incentive structures (Chen et al., 2004). However, the Chinese government’s 11th Five-Year-Plan draws attention to the hazards associated with contaminated land (Li, 2006a). New environmental laws and standards for soil quality are currently under development with risk-based land management concepts influencing the principles of the emerging system. As a consequence, there is an increased interest for information on practice from abroad. This paper utilizes a policy-transfer approach to examine the United Kingdom’s (UK) risk-based system for lessons that could be gleaned for China. In contrast to China, the UK operates a relatively effective management system which has developed from longstanding practice, seeking to strike a balance between the need to ensure the protection of human health and ecological systems, and containing the potentially high (financial) costs of remediating polluted sites (Catney et al., 2006). This is a balance that other countries, particularly China, are striving to achieve in their environmental regulatory regimes. As it was the British who spearheaded this approach, a better understanding of how the UK system operates will help apply the best aspects of UK practice to China. Space limitations prevent a wider investigation of other international cases in this paper. 1 We first examine the concept of policy transfer. The second section explores the land contamination problem in China, focusing in particular on the weak and fragmented system of regulation in place to deal with the problem. The UK policy framework and technical approaches that have developed over recent years are then analysed. The final section offers some suggestions for reforming the Chinese management system, based on lessons drawn from the UK. Overall, it is suggested that a more integrated management system, founded upon effective policy and risk-based technical approaches, may help China improve its regulatory * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ44 (0)1782 583346. E-mail addresses: qsluo99@yahoo.com.cn (Q. Luo), p.j.j.catney@pol.keele.ac.uk (P. Catney), d.n.lerner@sheffield.ac.uk (D. Lerner). 1 For a comprehensive international comparative examination of contaminated land approaches see Meyer et al. (1995). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Environmental Management journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jenvman 0301-4797/$ – see front matter Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.05.001 Journal of Environmental Management 90 (2009) 1123–1134