Focus on climate change is a priority for the future for Generation Z and Millennials

What are the main concerns of younger people? From food consumption to the search for actions that make the environment in which they live, at home and at work, less energy-intensive. New sensibilities are growing: institutions and brands around the world must play their part.

Deloitte’s 2023 report on Genz and Millennial highlighted interesting data regarding the concerns of the youngest population in Italy. The survey was conducted on a sample of 800 people (500 of GenerationZ, 300 of Millennials).

But what do we mean by Genz and Millennial? Millennials were born between 1981 and 1995, between 28 and 42 years), generation Z were born between 1996 and 2010, between 13 and 27 years. A wide range of age population that represents 31.94% of the total population (ISTAT, 2022 data), divided between those who must pursue the baccalaureate and the degree and those who have already obtained the degree, between those who still want to train to look for a job and those who are about to enter the labour market or have already entered.

Compared to 2019, the level of satisfaction for the work-life balance has increased from 19% to 26% among Genz, from 14% to 15% among millennials. Still considering the years 2019 and 2023, the Italian Genz shows greater satisfaction (from 9 to 14%) for the commitment made in the environmental field by the organizations for which they work, less satisfied Millennials (from 11 to 7%).

What are young people worried about their future?

Cost of living, climate change, unemployment, economic growth, income inequality/distribution of wealth. These are the 5 concerns of Genz and Millennials in Italy. As age increases, as economic independence increases, concern about the cost of living increases: 45% of Millennials versus 38% of Genz. The same Millennials are those who are most concerned about climate change (37% of Millennials against 34% of Genz).

Climate change and action
Compared to peers in the world, Italian Genz and Millennials are more concerned about climate change but are less likely to take action on sustainability. 60% of Genz in the world compared to 56% in Italy, the same 60% of Millennials in the world against 51% in Italy.
Among the concrete actions that millennials would take more into account to reduce climate impact is to make the house more energy efficient (43%) and to look for brands in line with sustainability criteria (35%). For Genz instead there is to avoid buying fast fashion (35%).

Youth4Climate: young people in comparison
The Youth4Climate: Sparking Solutions 2023 event, organised by the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, with the secretariat of the UNDP Rome Centre for Climate and Energy, took place in Rome from 17 to 19 October. 130 young people under 30 from 63 different countries met with national and international institutions on the issues of food and agri-food systems, climate education, energy and urban sustainability. 1,143 projects received, 43 awarded, 4 areas: energy, food and agriculture, education and urban sustainability.

The event confirms how young people under 30 are considered increasingly strategic to spread the culture of sustainability and good practices that start from the bottom. At this link the very interesting, some really revolutionary, awards awarded.