The Global Cooperation Barometer launched by the World Economic Forum reveals that international cooperation is at a standstill due to rising geopolitical tensions and instability. However, there is optimism and positive momentum in areas such as climate finance, health and innovation.
In today’s volatile environment, leaders need to embrace “disorganized” collaboration and dynamic, solution-focused decision-making to achieve tangible results and foster trust, the WEF said. .
AI and other emerging technologies are transforming and disrupting the global landscape. Coordinated cooperation is essential to harnessing benefits and mitigating risks. This highlights the need for a collaborative approach to address the challenges posed by these technological advances.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Cooperation Barometer 2025 was launched in Geneva. Developed in collaboration with McKinsey & Company, this barometer is designed to assess global cooperation across five pillars: trade and capital flows, innovation and technology, climate and natural capital, health and wellness, and peace and security. We use 41 indicators.
The latest findings reveal that global cooperation has stalled after a decade of positive trends, largely due to declining peace and security. Geopolitical tensions, particularly in regions such as the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan, are eroding collective security and increasing conflict levels. However, cooperation continues in areas such as vaccine distribution and renewable energy development, providing a model for future cooperation.
Despite increased geopolitical competition, 2023 saw advances in innovation and technology due to the digitalization of the global economy. Climate change cooperation has improved due to increased financial flows and trade in low-carbon technologies, but urgent action is needed to reach net-zero targets. Health outcomes have improved after the pandemic, but progress has slowed. Trade and capital flows showed mixed results, with trade in goods declining but flows of services, capital and people recovering.
This barometer highlights the need for adaptive, solution-driven leadership to navigate turbulent global conditions. By adopting collaborative solutions, leaders can rebuild trust and open up new opportunities for shared progress and resilience in the years ahead.
