Climate Migration and Urban Transformations: Towards a New Urban Sociology in the Face of Environmental Challenges

Abstract

Climate migration represents one of the most pressing contemporary challenges, redrawing the demographic and urban map of cities amid the escalation of severe environmental phenomena such as droughts, floods, and rising sea levels. This study aims to approach this phenomenon from an urban sociological perspective, analyzing the dynamics of environmental displacement and its impact on host cities, particularly in countries of the Global South. The research explores the concept of "ecological urbanization" as a strategic alternative to migration, and the role of urban policies in preparing for climate crises. It also highlights issues of marginalization and the reproduction of vulnerability in new urban environments. The study is based on an in-depth theoretical review and supported by international and Arab examples (such as Algeria, Bangladesh, and Nigeria). It concludes with the necessity to develop a new urban sociology that integrates environmental dimensions and climate justice within the social analysis of the city, while emphasizing the need for comprehensive, sustainable, and proactive planning policies.