About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

Global investors are not backing off on climate change, governance and human rights

By: Equities.com
Global investors are not backing off on climate change, governance and human rights

Investors around the world continue to engage on issues of responsibility such as climate change, governance and human rights despite increasing political backlash in many countries over ESG and DEI principles, a new analysis shows.

In its 2024 trends report, the Principles for Responsible Investment found that investors continue to incorporate sustainability factors into their engagement with companies, building portfolios and reporting to clients.

PRI, an independent organization formed in 2005 at the behest of the United Nations, compiles reports from more than 3,000 signatories, including asset owners and investment managers, who have agreed to abide by its principles.

“Our data shows that the perception of an industry-wide shift away from responsible investment practices is overstated,” said David Atkin, CEO of PRI.

“The global sector fundamentally understands that core responsible investment principles help them make smart investment decisions and are good for their businesses. What we are seeing is that signatories are going back to basics, assessing their work and evolving it in line with the world around them,” he said in a release on the organization’s website.

The report shows PRI signatories are continuing to include material issues into the way they pick assets, build portfolios and engage with companies. Financial materiality is the key driver for this activity, PRI found, with over 90% of investment managers having formalized processes to identify and incorporate issues such as physical climate risks and human rights and social-related issues into decisions.

“Our work with investors is and always has been about allowing them to gain better sight of the factors which could impact performance on the corporate balance sheet. We can say confidently that investors agree this work is vital, they’re keeping it up and that they’re seeing the benefit of it,” Atkin said.

Stewardship actions by a large majority (84%) of signatories include incorporating sustainability issues such as climate related risk into proxy voting policies and guidelines. Many now undertake these activities across multiple asset classes, not just equities: 81% are conducting stewardship specifically in relation to their fixed income investments, the report showed.

Asset owners are the main driving force for the industry. The PRI data showed that asset owners are more likely than investment managers to take a longer-term approach to identifying climate-related risks and opportunities and to use climate scenario analysis (58% vs 29%).

Here are the six principles that signatories to PRI agree to uphold:

  1. We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.
  2. We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.
  3. We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.
  4. We will promote acceptance and implementation of the principles within the investment industry.
  5. We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the principles.
  6. We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the principles.

Read more: A sustainable investment that no one finds controversial

More News

View More
Caterpillar Stock Hits All-Time High—Is There More Room to Run?
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Economy World Trade
Tickers CAT
Berkshire-Backed Lennar Slides After Weak Q3 Earnings
Via MarketBeat
Topics ETFs
Tickers BRK-A BRK-B LEN
Analysts Turn Bullish on Hershey—Is Pepsi the Next Value Play?
Via MarketBeat
Tickers GS HSY PEP
Coming in Hot: Retail Data Drives Momentum in 3 E-Commerce Stocks
Via MarketBeat
Topics Economy
Tickers AMZN ETSY SHOP
MarketBeat Week in Review – 09/15 - 09/19
Via MarketBeat
Topics Economy
Tickers AAPL AMZN AVGO BE CRWD JOBY
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.