Practice to Deliver Integrated Power, Gas, Broadband and Mission-Critical Solutions

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gresham Smith is excited to announce the launch of its Energy & Utility Infrastructure practice, a multidisciplinary group that helps public- and private-sector clients meet rising energy demands with resilient, scalable and integrated solutions.

For decades, Gresham Smith has provided a mix of engineering, coordination and consulting services for a wide range of clients, including hyperscale data center operators, utility companies, departments of transportation, and national labs that fall under the purview of the U.S. Department of Energy. Today’s announcement marks the creation of a new dedicated structure for a new practice that covers seven areas of expertise and is led by Energy & Utility Infrastructure Practice Leader Rick Yeager. He brings over 30 years of extensive design and project management experience for utility relocations, substations, electrical transmission, electrical distribution, and fiber optic facilities.

The new practice unites seven disciplines—electrical engineering services, natural gas engineering services, broadband and communication engineering services, data center services, Department of Energy services, on-site generation engineering support, and utility coordination services. Each discipline will support projects from concept through construction by partnering with municipalities, state agencies, private developers and national utilities to deliver integrated, cost-effective, and resilient solutions.

“Communities, municipalities, government agencies and industries are working to balance growth, reliability and sustainability in the face of rapidly changing energy demands across the country,” Yeager said. “At Gresham Smith, our Energy & Utility Infrastructure team helps clients meet these challenges head-on, delivering smart, scalable solutions that keep them ahead of the grid evolution, overcome interconnection hurdles, and build reliable, resilient systems for the future.”

Four discipline leaders have been named, and they include:

  • Greg Poston, P.E. — Electric and Broadband Services Leader
  • Bobby Worthington, P.E. — Natural Gas Services Leader
  • Josh Blevins, P.E. — Department of Energy Services Leader
  • Jeff Prentiss, P.E. — Data Center Services Leader

The Energy & Utility Infrastructure team delivers services to its own existing clients, while also serving as a firmwide resource that can support clients across markets, including private sector commercial, healthcare and manufacturing projects as well as public sector work across transportation and water infrastructure.

To learn more about Gresham Smith’s Energy & Utility Infrastructure practice and services, visit https://www.greshamsmith.com/energy-utility-infrastructure/.

About Gresham Smith
We are a premier architecture, engineering and consultancy services firm providing integrated, comprehensive solutions for private- and public-sector clients. With $354 million in annual gross revenue and 27 offices throughout the United States, our expertise encompasses eight strategic sectors: aviation, building engineering, healthcare, industrial, land planning, life and work places, transportation, and water and environment. Throughout all of our work, we focus on providing exceptional client experience and outcomes.

Repeatedly recognized by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies and consistently listed as a “Best Place to Work,” we are committed to delivering on our Core Purpose—to plan, design and consult to create healthy and thriving communities—through our brand promise of Genuine Ingenuity.

Learn more at GreshamSmith.com.

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SOURCE Gresham Smith

Originally published on Guiding Stars Health & Nutrition News

by Allison Stowell

We’re often flooded with diet promises claiming to be the key to better health. Popular plans like keto and paleo encourage more meat. At the same time, fibermaxxing focuses on daily fiber intake (a difficult goal when you’re eliminating carbohydrates). It’s easy to be confused and wonder what approach makes the most sense. What if you could take the best parts of these trends—like fiber-rich produce, quality protein, and nutrient-dense foods—and make them work for you? Guiding Stars is here to show us how we can.

Keto, but Better

The typical keto diet is very low in carbohydrates (less than 50 grams). It’s also very high in fat (about 70% of calories). Putting your body into ketosis will likely lead to weight loss—that is true. However, consuming so few carbohydrates can have a negative impact on your digestive system, mood, energy output, and strength. And a diet so high in saturated fat from higher-fat meat and full-fat dairy also increases risk of heart disease.

Are you curious about the keto diet but also looking for an approach that’s sustainable (with fewer negative impacts)? Then modify the traditional approach. Go for Guiding Stars-earning, lean meats for high-protein intake without saturated fat. Choose very lean ground turkey, 90% lean ground sirloin, and skinless chicken breast. Limit higher-fat proteins to salmon and other fish high in omega fats. And include just enough whole grains and fiber-rich vegetables to sustain your energy and protect your digestive system.

Intermittent Fasting

The eating pattern known as intermittent fasting remains popular. But for many people, it’s unsustainable and creates extreme hunger that leads to the same or more daily intake (just in fewer hours). Instead, eat earlier in the day and limit evening eating to create a 10-12-hour overnight fast. This gives the digestive system time to rest and may positively impact metabolism as well. For many of us, this simply means not eating after 6 or 7pm.

Plant-Based Protein

Interest in plant-based eating has increased over the past few years, with more products proudly calling out “plant-based” on their packaging. But it’s easy to overlook the nutritional quality of a product if “plant-based” is the only consideration. Look for Guiding Stars to ensure a product isn’t just made from plants, but that it’s nutritious too. Remember, you aren’t just not eating meat, you’re choosing plant-based protein. Viewing it through this lens encourages a balanced diet with adequate protein. Without this focus, your diet may lack the nutritional balance you need.

Paleo

The paleo diet attempts to replicate the way hunters and gatherers ate before we could farm (and process) foods. The emphasis is on grass-fed meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, and lower-glycemic vegetables and fruit. Unlike the keto diet, a paleo approach won’t leave you in ketosis. However, eliminating whole grains, dairy, and legumes means missing out on fiber and other essential micronutrients. Try a more balanced, sustainable approach instead—choose fewer processed products, limit added sugar, and use Guiding Stars to find nutrient-dense products

About Guiding Stars

Guiding Stars is an objective, evidence-based, nutrition guidance program that evaluates foods and beverages to make nutritious choices simple. Products that meet transparent nutrition criteria earn a 1, 2, or 3 star rating for good, better, and best nutrition. Guiding Stars can be found in more than 2,000 grocery stores and through the Guiding Stars Food Finder app.

Image by Freepik

Originally published on Guiding Stars Health & Nutrition News

by Allison Stowell

We’re often flooded with diet promises claiming to be the key to better health. Popular plans like keto and paleo encourage more meat. At the same time, fibermaxxing focuses on daily fiber intake (a difficult goal when you’re eliminating carbohydrates). It’s easy to be confused and wonder what approach makes the most sense. What if you could take the best parts of these trends—like fiber-rich produce, quality protein, and nutrient-dense foods—and make them work for you? Guiding Stars is here to show us how we can.

Keto, but Better

The typical keto diet is very low in carbohydrates (less than 50 grams). It’s also very high in fat (about 70% of calories). Putting your body into ketosis will likely lead to weight loss—that is true. However, consuming so few carbohydrates can have a negative impact on your digestive system, mood, energy output, and strength. And a diet so high in saturated fat from higher-fat meat and full-fat dairy also increases risk of heart disease.

Are you curious about the keto diet but also looking for an approach that’s sustainable (with fewer negative impacts)? Then modify the traditional approach. Go for Guiding Stars-earning, lean meats for high-protein intake without saturated fat. Choose very lean ground turkey, 90% lean ground sirloin, and skinless chicken breast. Limit higher-fat proteins to salmon and other fish high in omega fats. And include just enough whole grains and fiber-rich vegetables to sustain your energy and protect your digestive system.

Intermittent Fasting

The eating pattern known as intermittent fasting remains popular. But for many people, it’s unsustainable and creates extreme hunger that leads to the same or more daily intake (just in fewer hours). Instead, eat earlier in the day and limit evening eating to create a 10-12-hour overnight fast. This gives the digestive system time to rest and may positively impact metabolism as well. For many of us, this simply means not eating after 6 or 7pm.

Plant-Based Protein

Interest in plant-based eating has increased over the past few years, with more products proudly calling out “plant-based” on their packaging. But it’s easy to overlook the nutritional quality of a product if “plant-based” is the only consideration. Look for Guiding Stars to ensure a product isn’t just made from plants, but that it’s nutritious too. Remember, you aren’t just not eating meat, you’re choosing plant-based protein. Viewing it through this lens encourages a balanced diet with adequate protein. Without this focus, your diet may lack the nutritional balance you need.

Paleo

The paleo diet attempts to replicate the way hunters and gatherers ate before we could farm (and process) foods. The emphasis is on grass-fed meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, and lower-glycemic vegetables and fruit. Unlike the keto diet, a paleo approach won’t leave you in ketosis. However, eliminating whole grains, dairy, and legumes means missing out on fiber and other essential micronutrients. Try a more balanced, sustainable approach instead—choose fewer processed products, limit added sugar, and use Guiding Stars to find nutrient-dense products

About Guiding Stars

Guiding Stars is an objective, evidence-based, nutrition guidance program that evaluates foods and beverages to make nutritious choices simple. Products that meet transparent nutrition criteria earn a 1, 2, or 3 star rating for good, better, and best nutrition. Guiding Stars can be found in more than 2,000 grocery stores and through the Guiding Stars Food Finder app.

Image by Freepik

Two people looking at a cell phone

From sold-out concerts to major sporting events, the fan experience starts before the first note or kickoff. At SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, we’re proud to partner with BradyPLUS to bring our   the KOLO® Smart Monitoring System 2.0 to the facility. 

The partnership helps reduce waste and targets sustainability goals.  

Learn how we’re keeping restrooms ready and fans on the move.
 

About Georgia-Pacific 
Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose and building products.  Our familiar consumer brands include Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Quilted Northern®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world’s largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs approximately 30,000 people directly and creates more than 80,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: gp.com/about-us. For news, visit: news.gp.com. Follow Georgia-Pacific on LinkedIn, Meta, Instagram, X and YouTube.

View original content here.

Two people looking at a cell phone

From sold-out concerts to major sporting events, the fan experience starts before the first note or kickoff. At SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, we’re proud to partner with BradyPLUS to bring our   the KOLO® Smart Monitoring System 2.0 to the facility. 

The partnership helps reduce waste and targets sustainability goals.  

Learn how we’re keeping restrooms ready and fans on the move.
 

About Georgia-Pacific 
Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose and building products.  Our familiar consumer brands include Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Quilted Northern®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world’s largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs approximately 30,000 people directly and creates more than 80,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: gp.com/about-us. For news, visit: news.gp.com. Follow Georgia-Pacific on LinkedIn, Meta, Instagram, X and YouTube.

View original content here.

February 11, 2026 /3BL/ – Whirlpool Corporation has once again been recognized by Fortune as one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies,” marking the sixteenth consecutive year the company has earned this distinction. Whirlpool Corporation was selected for this honor based on peer evaluations of its performance, leadership, innovation, and commitment to communities where it operates around the globe.  

“We are deeply honored to be included once again on Fortune’s Most Admired Companies list,” said Marc Bitzer, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation. “This recognition reflects the dedication, resilience and engagement of our employees worldwide, whose efforts drive our mission to improve life at home every day.”

The World’s Most Admired Companies list highlights organizations most respected by their industry peers across criteria including management, innovation, social responsibility, long-term investment value, and global competitiveness. Fortune partners with Korn Ferry on this annual survey, gathering insights from thousands of executives, directors and analysts.  

Click here to see the full list of World’s Most Admired Companies.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2025, the company reported approximately $16 billion in annual net sales – close to 90% of which were in the Americas – 41,000 employees, and 35 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com

View original content here.

February 11, 2026 /3BL/ – Whirlpool Corporation has once again been recognized by Fortune as one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies,” marking the sixteenth consecutive year the company has earned this distinction. Whirlpool Corporation was selected for this honor based on peer evaluations of its performance, leadership, innovation, and commitment to communities where it operates around the globe.  

“We are deeply honored to be included once again on Fortune’s Most Admired Companies list,” said Marc Bitzer, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation. “This recognition reflects the dedication, resilience and engagement of our employees worldwide, whose efforts drive our mission to improve life at home every day.”

The World’s Most Admired Companies list highlights organizations most respected by their industry peers across criteria including management, innovation, social responsibility, long-term investment value, and global competitiveness. Fortune partners with Korn Ferry on this annual survey, gathering insights from thousands of executives, directors and analysts.  

Click here to see the full list of World’s Most Admired Companies.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2025, the company reported approximately $16 billion in annual net sales – close to 90% of which were in the Americas – 41,000 employees, and 35 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com

View original content here.

AMSTERDAM and HONG KONG and OAKLAND, Calif., February 11, 2026 /3BL/ – Cascale Better Buying has released Mapping Cascale Better Buying Responsible Purchasing Practices Survey Questions to the CFRPP and PP-DD Frameworks analyzing how its Responsible Purchasing Practices surveys align with two widely used industry due diligence frameworks: the Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing Practices (CFRPP) and the Purchasing Practices Human Rights Due Diligence (PP-DD) Framework.

The analysis maps supplier feedback captured through Better Buying tools against each framework’s requirements to better understand where responsible purchasing and human rights due diligence expectations are already reflected, where additional coverage can be achieved through existing services, and where targeted refinements could further strengthen alignment. The report also identifies areas that fall outside Better Buying’s core focus or practices that suppliers cannot reasonably observe.

“Our goal was to bring greater clarity to how supplier-reported data can support responsible purchasing and human rights due diligence efforts,” said Katie Hess, head of product at Cascale Better Buying. “This mapping shows that supplier feedback already provides meaningful insight into many core practices, and it highlights practical ways companies can strengthen alignment without adding unnecessary complexity.”

Mapping to the CFRPP

The CFRPP was developed in 2022 by a working group of multi-stakeholder initiatives as a shared reference point for companies and supporting organizations to understand and improve responsible purchasing practices in supply chains. Better Buying Institute, whose assets were acquired by Cascale in 2025, was consulted during the development process and contributed input as part of the broader stakeholder consultation and benchmarking process.

Mapping the Cascale Better Buying survey questions to the CFRPP revealed:

  • Existing Cascale Better Buying survey questions cover 60 percent of CFRPP practices.
  • By subscribing to Cascale Better Buying services, companies can address an additional 21 percent of CFRPP requirements.
  • Targeted additions or revisions to survey questions will extend coverage by a further nine percent.
  • The remaining 10 percent of CFRPP practices fall outside Better Buying’s focus or are beyond what suppliers can directly observe or assess.

Mapping to the PP-DD Framework

The PP-DD Framework was developed by the Responsible Purchasing Practices Working Group, a coalition of multi-stakeholder organizations working to advance responsible purchasing and human rights due diligence in global supply chains. The PP-DD Framework defines the core actions companies should be accountable for when aligning purchasing practices with human rights due diligence expectations.

Mapping the Cascale Better Buying survey questions to the PP-DD Framework revealed:

  • Existing Cascale Better Buying survey questions cover 47 percent of the PP-DD Framework requirements.
  • An additional 22 percent of PP-DD requirements can be addressed through current Cascale Better Buying services.
  • Modest updates to survey content will extend coverage by a further 11 percent.
  • Twenty percent of PP-DD practices fall outside the scope of Better Buying’s tools or are not reasonably knowable by suppliers.

Summary

Together, the findings demonstrate how supplier voice data can support responsible purchasing practices and human rights due diligence when used alongside established frameworks. The report reinforces Cascale Better Buying’s role in helping companies understand where they are today and where practical improvements can be made to support decent work through more responsible purchasing.

Media Contact: Forster Communications, cascaleforster@forster.co.uk

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on Worldly, the most comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.

LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

AMSTERDAM and HONG KONG and OAKLAND, Calif., February 11, 2026 /3BL/ – Cascale Better Buying has released Mapping Cascale Better Buying Responsible Purchasing Practices Survey Questions to the CFRPP and PP-DD Frameworks analyzing how its Responsible Purchasing Practices surveys align with two widely used industry due diligence frameworks: the Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing Practices (CFRPP) and the Purchasing Practices Human Rights Due Diligence (PP-DD) Framework.

The analysis maps supplier feedback captured through Better Buying tools against each framework’s requirements to better understand where responsible purchasing and human rights due diligence expectations are already reflected, where additional coverage can be achieved through existing services, and where targeted refinements could further strengthen alignment. The report also identifies areas that fall outside Better Buying’s core focus or practices that suppliers cannot reasonably observe.

“Our goal was to bring greater clarity to how supplier-reported data can support responsible purchasing and human rights due diligence efforts,” said Katie Hess, head of product at Cascale Better Buying. “This mapping shows that supplier feedback already provides meaningful insight into many core practices, and it highlights practical ways companies can strengthen alignment without adding unnecessary complexity.”

Mapping to the CFRPP

The CFRPP was developed in 2022 by a working group of multi-stakeholder initiatives as a shared reference point for companies and supporting organizations to understand and improve responsible purchasing practices in supply chains. Better Buying Institute, whose assets were acquired by Cascale in 2025, was consulted during the development process and contributed input as part of the broader stakeholder consultation and benchmarking process.

Mapping the Cascale Better Buying survey questions to the CFRPP revealed:

  • Existing Cascale Better Buying survey questions cover 60 percent of CFRPP practices.
  • By subscribing to Cascale Better Buying services, companies can address an additional 21 percent of CFRPP requirements.
  • Targeted additions or revisions to survey questions will extend coverage by a further nine percent.
  • The remaining 10 percent of CFRPP practices fall outside Better Buying’s focus or are beyond what suppliers can directly observe or assess.

Mapping to the PP-DD Framework

The PP-DD Framework was developed by the Responsible Purchasing Practices Working Group, a coalition of multi-stakeholder organizations working to advance responsible purchasing and human rights due diligence in global supply chains. The PP-DD Framework defines the core actions companies should be accountable for when aligning purchasing practices with human rights due diligence expectations.

Mapping the Cascale Better Buying survey questions to the PP-DD Framework revealed:

  • Existing Cascale Better Buying survey questions cover 47 percent of the PP-DD Framework requirements.
  • An additional 22 percent of PP-DD requirements can be addressed through current Cascale Better Buying services.
  • Modest updates to survey content will extend coverage by a further 11 percent.
  • Twenty percent of PP-DD practices fall outside the scope of Better Buying’s tools or are not reasonably knowable by suppliers.

Summary

Together, the findings demonstrate how supplier voice data can support responsible purchasing practices and human rights due diligence when used alongside established frameworks. The report reinforces Cascale Better Buying’s role in helping companies understand where they are today and where practical improvements can be made to support decent work through more responsible purchasing.

Media Contact: Forster Communications, cascaleforster@forster.co.uk

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on Worldly, the most comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.

LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

By Michelle Brown, Action Against Hunger

This year could be a pivot point for global hunger. Despite decades of humanitarian progress, we are witnessing a dramatic reversal: more people are facing severe hunger today than at any point in the past decade. Conflict, climate shocks, and economic collapse are pushing millions to the brink of famine.

Our new 2026 Global Hunger Hot Spots report draws on first-hand experience from our teams working in crisis zones and analysis of the latest data from the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2025) and the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC 2025). Based on the latest data available, 295 million people are facing acute food insecurity across 59 countries. Two-thirds of these individuals live in just ten countries, totaling over 196 million people in crisis, emergency, or catastrophe/famine conditions. As we look ahead to 2026, these ten hunger hot spots demand our urgent attention and action.

A Devastating Concentration of Hunger

The countries on our list share disturbing commonalities. Armed conflict, extreme weather events, economic shocks, and structural inequalities create a toxic combination that turns manageable challenges into humanitarian catastrophes. Here are the top three:

Nigeria: The World’s Largest Food Crisis — Nigeria tops our list with 31.8 million people in acute food insecurity. In the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, the Boko Haram insurgency and ISWAP violence have devastated communities for over 15 years. The 2024 floods, which destroyed 1.1 million hectares of farmland, compounded this crisis. With 5.4 million children suffering from acute malnutrition and inflation at 35%, Nigerian families face impossible choices between food, medicine, and shelter. The drastic cuts to international humanitarian funding threaten to push millions more into hunger.

Sudan: A Nation on the Edge of Famine — Sudan’s civil war, which has been raging since April 2023, has created one of the world’s fastest deteriorating humanitarian crises. With 25.6 million people food insecure and famine already declared in five areas, the situation is dire. Over 14 million people have been displaced, and 70-80% of hospitals are non-functional. The siege of El Fasher has left hundreds of thousands trapped without access to food or water. Unless immediate action is taken, famine will spread to additional regions in 2026.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Suffering Outside the Spotlight — The advance of the M23 movement in early 2025 captured strategic cities, displacing millions and severing access to essential services. With 25.6 million people facing acute food insecurity, the crisis affects both displaced populations and host communities, already struggling with poverty and lack of infrastructure.

The remaining seven countries on our list face equally severe challenges: Bangladesh (23.6 million people in acute food insecurity) hosts nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees while grappling with devastating cyclones and floods. Ethiopia (22 million) continues to struggle with the aftermath of conflict in Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia, while drought decimates pastoral communities. Yemen (16.7 million) faces its worst drought in decades amid ongoing conflict. Afghanistan (15.8 million), Myanmar (14.4 million), Pakistan (11.8 million), and Syria (9.2 million) each face their own combination of conflict, climate shocks, and economic collapse.

Climate change is no longer a future threat; it is a present crisis multiplier. In Pakistan, the 2025 monsoon floods followed devastating droughts, destroying crops and displacing millions. Myanmar experiences both severe flooding and insufficient, erratic rainfall. These climate shocks are not isolated incidents but part of a pattern that will intensify in 2026 and beyond.

Somalia offers another stark example of the climate crisis intensifying hunger. Though not among the top ten in absolute numbers, the country faces a catastrophic drought emergency following four consecutive seasons of failed rains. The Federal Government declared a national drought emergency in November 2025 as conditions rapidly deteriorated across northern, central, and southern regions. At least 4.4 million people—nearly one-quarter of Somalia’s population—were projected to face severe food insecurity through December 2025, with that number expected to rise to 5.9 million by early 2026. What makes Somalia’s crisis particularly alarming is the timing: drought conditions have worsened precisely as funding cuts force humanitarian organizations to scale back assistance. The number of people receiving emergency food aid plummeted from 1.1 million in August to just 350,000 in November, while over 200 health and nutrition facilities were forced to close. This preventable catastrophe demonstrates how climate shocks combined with funding shortfalls can rapidly push vulnerable populations toward famine.

The Most Vulnerable Contexts

While these ten countries represent the largest absolute numbers, our report also highlights three additional contexts that demand urgent attention due to the severity of their crises: Gaza, where 100% of the population faces acute food insecurity and famine has been declared; South Sudan, where 56% of the population cannot access sufficient food; and Haiti, where gang violence and economic collapse have pushed 50% of the population into crisis.

Across these thirteen contexts, nearly 30 million children suffer from acute malnutrition, with 8.5 million severely malnourished and at elevated risk of death without treatment. At least 13 million pregnant or breastfeeding women are malnourished, creating intergenerational consequences that will echo for decades. We are not just facing a hunger crisis – we are witnessing the systematic destruction of a generation’s potential.

The Funding Crisis Threatens Lives

Perhaps most alarming is the withdrawal of international support at this critical moment. The United States announced an 83% cut to USAID humanitarian programs, with significant reductions following from Germany, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the Netherlands. A recent study in The Lancet showed that USAID-funded programs saved over 90 million lives in the past 20 years. If the new, lower levels of funding are maintained through 2030, it could cause 14 million preventable deaths, including 4.5 million children under five.

The hunger crisis is solvable, but only with sustained political will and adequate resources. We need immediate action to advance solutions that work: ensuring safe humanitarian access, integrating climate adaptation into food security programs, prioritizing women and children, providing adequate and flexible funding, supporting local solutions, strengthening hunger prevention, and upholding the right to adequate food as a fundamental human right.

As we look ahead to 2026, the question is not whether we can prevent these crises from worsening – we know we can. The question is whether we will. The countries on our list are caught in a vicious cycle: as hunger deepens, so does instability, making it even harder to deliver aid and build lasting solutions. Our teams work alongside communities showing extraordinary resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship. What they need now is meaningful action from the entire international community.

***

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 26.5 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,500+ dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

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