In recent years, the world has faced an accumulation of acute global crises: the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, a surge in conflicts worldwide - with 61 conflicts recorded in 2024 involving 36 countries - climatic and environmental disasters such as floods in Pakistan and Spain, and droughts in Morocco.
All these crises - geopolitical, ecological, economic, and political - are intertwined and feed off each other, leading to a historic turning point. We have entered the era of the polycrisis: crises are not only multiple, but they overlap and reinforce one another, compelling us to rethink leadership and political solutions.
New, systemic, and coordinated solutions must emerge. They must be based on new foundations: interdisciplinary approaches, multi-stakeholder coalitions, and systematic thinking.
In that context, the Paris Y7 2026 will focus on the theme Fighting the polycrisis. Ambitious, inclusive, and a driving force for concrete proposals, the G7’s official youth engagement group, the Y7, will direct its efforts within a renewed framework to tackle global challenges along the major axes of upheaval: Geopolitical upheavals; Technological disruptions; Economic and demographic imbalances; Ecological crisis.
Geopolitical upheavals
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The geopolitical track explores how the rules-based international order, built after 1945, is being challenged, bypassed, or weakened by rising conflicts, power rivalries, and disregard for international law. As global governance institutions lose credibility and new forms of conflict emerge — from cyberattacks to AI-enabled warfare — the Y7 will seek youth-driven proposals to strengthen international law, renew multilateral cooperation, and improve collective security. Delegates will focus on revitalizing global institutions, reinforcing regional alliances, and addressing emerging security risks linked to new technologies and escalating state-to-state tensions.
Rapid technological change — from generative AI to green tech and semiconductor dependencies — is reshaping economies, infrastructures, and societies at an unprecedented scale. This track will examine how to secure critical digital and physical infrastructures, govern data and AI responsibly, and manage the economic and ethical implications of a digital ecosystem dominated by a few powerful actors. Delegates will work on proposals for sustainable AI governance, resilient supply chains, fair digital taxation, and measures to counter disinformation, attention capture, and the cognitive impact of unregulated platforms.
Technological disruptions
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Economic and demographic imbalances
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Aging populations, declining birth rates, and rising intergenerational inequalities are redefining the economic and social landscape of G7 countries. This track will explore how to redesign social systems for demographic sustainability, restore fairness between generations, and rethink the future of work in a world transformed by technology and changing life paths. Key areas include reforming pension and family policies, rebalancing wealth distribution, improving access to housing and capital for younger generations, and investing in skills, mobility, and inclusive employment models that give youth a real capacity to build a desirable future.
The ecological track addresses the accelerating degradation of ecosystems, the crossing of planetary boundaries, and the growing impact of climate and biodiversity loss on global stability. With essential value chains, food security, and health systems increasingly threatened, the Y7 will work on proposals to strengthen ecological resilience, support fair and effective climate action, and integrate environmental priorities into all areas of policy. Discussions will focus on securing critical resources, redefining social cohesion in a world shaped by climate pressures, and mobilizing public and private finance at scale to drive the environmental transition.
Ecological crises
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