In a world that is evolving faster than ever, anticipating and understanding emerging risks has become a strategic imperative. For the past twelve years, AXA's
The 2025 edition of the report delivers a clear and urgent message: while climate change remains the leading global concern, it is now compounded by intensifying geopolitical instability, the exponential rise of artificial intelligence, and profound demographic shifts straining public finances.
The report highlights how social fragmentation is amplifying the world's vulnerability. Trust in institutions is eroding, and only 19% of experts express full confidence in public authorities' ability to manage future crises. Technological innovation is advancing at breakneck speed — yet our ethical frameworks and regulatory systems lag far behind, leaving societies exposed to risks of misinformation, bias, and misuse.
This year's findings make one truth impossible to ignore: polarization and declining social cohesion are not just symptoms of instability — they are catalysts of new and emerging risks. With an ongoing crisis of liberal democracy, both experts and citizens report an unprecedented sense of vulnerability.
We find ourselves at a global inflection point. As long-standing frameworks are being questioned, we must respond with strategic foresight, collective leadership, and bold innovation. We need to co-create a shared vision of the future, strengthen cooperation in critical risk domains, and build agile, adaptive frameworks capable of keeping pace with change. Global challenges — from climate disruption to AI governance to financial fragility — demand coordinated international action and smarter regulation.
Yet, we are not powerless. The private sector, especially insurers, has a vital role to play — not just in risk mitigation, but in shaping a more cohesive and resilient society. Public-private partnerships must harness the expertise and adaptability of business to anticipate, manage, and respond to crises. At AXA, we believe that acting for human progress means protecting what matters most — and doing so with vision, urgency, and resolve. The risks of tomorrow are already here. The time to act is now.
