The Impact of Urbanization on the Socio-Spatial Distribution of Vulnerability to Climate Change

The objective of this article is to analyze the relationship between climate change and the city, based on the incidence of urbanization processes on the socio-spatial distribution of vulnerability. To this aim, a review of the literature and a theoretical discussion are conducted, taking as a case study the urban growth of the metropolitan arca of Guadalajara (Mexico) and the implications of vulnerability to climate change in some sites of priority attention. Among the main arguments, it is established that the populations, especially the most disadvantaged, not only face the challenge of adapting to the risks arising from climate change but also the effects of accelerated urban growth. It is concluded that it is important to rethink the role of cities in the face of climate change, in terms of its incidence on reducing vulnerability through urban planning that centers on social welfare.