Today’s ESG Updates
- Northern Kenya Drought and Hunger Crisis Worsens Amid Aid Cuts: Recurrent droughts and international aid cuts have left hundreds of thousands in northern Kenya struggling for food and water.
- Oil Prices Rise Amid US-Iran Tensions: Concerns over potential conflict between the United States and Iran, coupled with falling U.S. crude inventories, have pushed Brent and WTI benchmarks higher, signaling heightened global supply risk.
- California-Trump Legal Battle Puts U.S. Automakers in Regulatory Limbo: A lawsuit challenges the Trump administration’s move to revoke California’s EV emissions waiver.
- American Water Works Faces Rising Costs Amid Major Infrastructure Investments: The utility company reported Q4 results slightly below expectations as it invests $46–48 billion to upgrade water and wastewater systems for efficiency, leak reduction, and long-term resilience.
Northern Kenya drought and hunger crisis worsens amid aid cuts
Northern Kenya is facing a worsening hunger crisis as recurrent droughts devastate food and water supplies, particularly in Turkana County. Aid cuts from international donors, including reductions under the U.S. administration, have forced agencies like the UN’s World Food Programme to scale back support, leaving hundreds of thousands without sufficient rations. Families, such as 76-year-old Echakan Amaja’s, struggle on minimal aid and foraged food, while livestock theft further strains survival. The drought is unprecedented, affecting wild fruits and pastures, and heightening competition for scarce resources, raising the risk of conflict. Neighboring Somalia faces similar severe food insecurity.
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Further reading: Drought deepens hunger in northern Kenya as aid cuts bite
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Rising oil prices amid US-Iran tensions and supply concerns
Global oil prices climbed as fears of potential conflict between the United States and Iran intensified. Brent and WTI benchmarks rose over 1%, approaching six-month highs, as traders factored in risks of supply disruptions, particularly near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil flow. Military escalations, including U.S. warship deployments and Iran’s rocket launches, fueled market uncertainty. Meanwhile, U.S. crude and fuel inventories fell unexpectedly, further tightening supply. Analysts warn that oil could rise further if tensions escalate, highlighting how geopolitical risks in oil-producing regions directly influence global energy markets and commodity pricing.
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Further reading: Oil prices extend gains on concerns of potential US-Iran conflict
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California-Trump legal battle puts U.S. automakers in regulatory limbo
U.S. automakers face regulatory uncertainty as California challenges the Trump administration’s effort to revoke the state’s waiver for stricter emissions rules. The lawsuit could force manufacturers to comply with conflicting federal anti-EV policies and California’s pro-electric vehicle regulations, affecting 11 other states that follow California’s mandates. Tesla and traditional automakers risk revenue loss and production disruptions if California prevails, while federal rollback of EV subsidies hampers national sales. Legal ambiguity has left companies navigating uncertain compliance, with EV adoption targets potentially unmet. The case underscores how political and legal clashes are reshaping America’s vehicle-emissions and EV market landscape.
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Further reading: US automakers caught in crossfire of Trump, California EV battle
American Water Works faces rising costs amid major infrastructure investments
American Water Works (AWK) reported fourth-quarter revenue and profit slightly below Wall Street expectations, driven by rising expenses linked to major infrastructure upgrades. The utility company plans to invest $46–48 billion over the next decade to modernize water and wastewater systems, aiming to reduce leaks, improve efficiency, and boost system resilience. Adjusted earnings came in at $1.24 per share versus the $1.25 per share expected, while revenue reached $1.27 billion, below the $1.29 billion estimate. Shares fell about 1% in after-hours trading. Despite the shortfall, the company maintained its 2026 adjusted earnings forecast between $6.02 and $6.12 per share.
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Further reading: American Water Works misses quarterly results estimates on higher expenses
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: Livestock suffering prolonged drought. Cover Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
