Brownfields are contaminated sites, the reuse and redevelopment of which may be complicated by the presence of hazardous substances and contaminants. Brownfields pose large risks to the environment and public health. Thus, cleaning up and reinvesting in brownfields is essential to relieve pressures on public health and the environment, and to mitigate potential social unrest. Additionally, proper contaminated site management reduces development pressures from green spaces and agricultural lands.

As proper management of brownfields is both a new and important issue in China, China can benefit by learning from the past experiences of other countries. This report presents an overview of policy and regulations on contaminated site management in four different regions: North America (the United States, Canada), Asia (Japan and Taiwan, China), Europe (European Union, United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands) and Latin America (Brazil and Mexico).