Latin America has had controversy regarding their environmental challenges in Urban Areas, as well as Regional and International issues. The rural workers of Latin America have often migrating to cities due to the lack of job application and appropriate shelter. They are forced to live in makeshift communities called shantytowns, which are located on the edges of cities. The lack of running water and underground sewage systems leave the unsanitation and spread of diseases. Air pollution, such as industrial smokestacks, affect people without the correct clean oxygen laws, where vehicles such as cars release massive amounts of exhaust gases into the air.

The Rapid Urbanization in cities has also made more environmental challenges concerning the excess population growth and the available resources for important needs such as housing, and the sanitation, employment, education and government services. The government and international agencies are working to resolve and provide need for their people.

In the course of 150 years, territorial conflicts over disputed resources involving locations with valuable natural resources. Fishing rights in the Gulf of Foncesa have been fought over with Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador, and petroleum np holdings involving Venezuela and Guyana. Peru and Ecuador had finally settled their border dispute in 1998, investors offering $3 billion to develop economies and human services. The high birth rates that have caused overpopulation, have been lowered and migrated abroad Latin America, and as well as the United States. Finding a better way of life has been the main reason to migrate to the United States. The scientists that leave Latin America leave the country with the lack of resources to solve environmental problems, so leaders of Latin America are seeking and creating jobs to attract people looking for foreign investment.

The natural disasters in Latin America have also taken a toll on human life and economic resources, mostly their physical geography making them vulnerable to these disasters. The governments in Latin America have cooperated to use more complex technologies, such as satellite imaging, to anticipate incoming disasters in emergencies rather than wait until last minute.

The industrial pollution including the air and water pollution have added to the list of issues. The risk of increased pollution has not been sated, including the chemical runoffs from fertilizer that may damage the health and lives of citizens. The governments and agencies are working together to address these challenges.

After a treaty was established between the United States and Mexico in 1960, maquiladora industry had migrants traveling place to place to get their job in these 'maquiladoras' because they paid better wages than in the rest of Mexico. The imported materials that are imported are what they work with assembled in these maquiladoras, then exported to consumers in the U.S. and other countries. Women like Carmen Durán were unhappy with their jobs, because the conditions and attitudes towards their work affected them greatly. They were exposed to chemicals in the air, and were often pressured by their superiors. Carmen started having kidney trouble, after being exposed to the scent of adhesive during her working hours, because they wouldn't let them drink water or go to the bathroom. Sanyo ended up being sent to Indonesia after six years because the product being fabricated was moving there and the labor was cheaper. They didn't pay their severance.

In 1994 after NAFTA, Tijuana's soil had become more fertile for sowing companies. 4000 companies had been esablisheed across the border and had more than a million maquila workers.  Lourdes Lujan, who lived in Chilpancingo since birth, had wanted her sons to experience their time in the once clean, crystalline waters, but it had unfortunately had become polluted greatly. The water has affected citizens from sores on their legs, itchy skin, rash, and other symptoms.

Promotors are women who worked in the factories and learned their rights as women and as workers. These people make Chavez throughout the community, workplaces and through other people. They promote the law of women's rights and labor rights.

These people, especially women, had faced controversy and have delt with the hardships of work and fighting for their rights as a person and a worker, still are looking for a change in their society as they continue to persue their chances of a better life.