In a World of Polycrisis, Let's Give Generation Z the Tools to Understand and Act

One of our missions, perhaps our most important, as business leaders, entrepreneurs and insurers is to support Generation Z and help restore its confidence in the future. We cannot expect this generation to replicate our models, many of which have become obsolete in the face of the uncertainties that directly affect them.

Generation Z is the first generation to grow up in a world where risks are no longer isolated events but systemic, global and recurring. This fundamentally changes the way young people envision the future and makes their perception of the world far more anxiety-inducing.

Aujourd’hui, par exemple, les violences géopolitiques sont redevenues une réalité concrète alors que, pour les générations précédentes, la guerre était un événement lointain et la paix quasiment un acquis. Pour la Génération Z, cette grille de lecture ne fonctionne plus. Les conflits sont devenus proches, quotidiens, mis en exergue en direct dans les médias, sans filtre sur les réseaux sociaux. À leurs yeux, la paix n’est plus forcément garantie.

The same is true of climate change. The recent heatwave in France once again illustrates how what was once considered “abnormal weather” is becoming the new normal, bringing with it an increasing number of natural disasters. For Generation Z, climate change is not an abstract debate but an observable and deeply concerning reality. How can young people build a life plan when current events constantly remind them of the fragility of the planet’s natural balance?

Finally, our societies are also facing multiple forms of violence that are particularly alarming. Gender-based violence, amplified by the continuous flow of social media, is one example. Young people are exposed as never before to digital violence through cyberbullying, hate speech, misinformation and the growing polarization of public debate. Whether in the street or online, they experience these forms of violence directly.

Combating Anxiety and Distrust

These realities share a common consequence for Generation Z: they fuel anxiety and distrust. They reinforce the damaging perception that risks are everywhere and that society is trapped in a state of permanent polycrisis. In turn, this weakens the implicit intergenerational contract that long rested on the belief that each generation would enjoy better living conditions than the previous one.

Today, many young people feel the opposite is true. This concern is compounded by an ageing population, which could ultimately put additional pressure on social protection systems. Behind these worries lies a recurring question: “Can I still believe in the future?”

Insurers stand on the front line of these profound societal changes that challenge Generation Z. It has become clear that our business models must evolve. We need to move from a society focused on repairing damage to one centred on preventing risks.

This shift is already visible in areas such as climate, mental health and cyber risks. Generation Z is encouraging institutions to move decisively in this direction.

Restoring Confidence to a Generation Growing Up with Anxiety

Insurance has always been built on a promise of confidence in the future. To insure is, fundamentally, to believe in tomorrow. If the insurer of the twenty-first century is one who helps prevent and mitigate risks, then it must also enable young people to regain confidence in their collective ability to build a better future.

Faced with risks that cannot be managed individually, Generation Z may also have something to teach us. Tomorrow’s defining value may no longer be performance alone, but trust. Success may no longer be measured solely through individual achievement, but through social cohesion and solidarity.

These challenges require collective responses because we are always more resilient when we act together.

Our responsibility is therefore to strike the right balance in the face of uncertainty, turning these challenges into a powerful catalyst for engagement, prevention and collective action.