Central and South America  is a highly diverse region, both culturally and biologically. It has one of the highest levels of biodiversity on the planet   1: Biodiversity Hotspots) and a wealth of cultural diversity resulting from more than 800 Indigenous Peoples who share the territory with European and African descendants and more recent Asian migrants . Moreover, it is one of the most urbanised regions in the world, with some of the most populated metropolitan areas . Several countries in the region have experienced sustained economic growth in recent decades, making important advances in reducing poverty in the area. Yet it is a region of substantial social inequality including the highest inequality in land tenure, where a large percentage of the population remains below the poverty line, unequally distributed between rural and urban areas and along aspects like gender and race; these groups are highly vulnerable to climate change and natural extreme events that frequently affect the region  .
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report