Greening of cities in the face of the epidemiological-environmental crisis: Urban agenda and ecological transition in Metropolitan contexts

This research focuses on the epidemiological-environmental crisis (EEC) in metropolitan contexts, highlighting how environmental devastation, health deterioration, and social inequality intersect in urban spaces. Urban policies often prioritize speculative real estate ventures, fueling ecological damage and accentuating chronic-degenerative diseases due to water pollution and unsustainable development. This documentary study applied critical urban theory and genetic-structural analysis, selecting peer-reviewed articles from indexed databases; categories included sustainable cities, vulnerability, social inequality, and water resource management. Findings indicate that rapid urbanization, coupled with unregulated wastewater discharge, intensifies contamination and public health threats, especially among marginalized communities. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) appears closely linked to exposure to toxic substances. The push for an ecological transition calls for binding land-use policies that transcend speculative models, protecting ecosystems and health. The study underscores the urgency of restructuring urban agendas to foster ecological transitions to mitigate the EEC’s impacts. Future research should integrate theoretical and empirical perspectives to generate transformative solutions, prioritizing social justice, environmental sustainability, and inclusive policymaking. Integral collaboration among academics, policymakers, and communities is vital to address vulnerabilities.