In a heartening display of human resilience and adaptability, global cooperation is proving stronger than ever, just in different forms than we've seen before. The World Economic Forum's newly released Global Cooperation Barometer 2026 brings encouraging news during what many consider one of the most uncertain periods in recent history.

Rather than retreating in the face of challenges, countries worldwide are reinventing how they collaborate, finding fresh approaches to tackle shared priorities. While traditional multilateral institutions face headwinds, smaller, more agile coalitions of nations have stepped up magnificently to maintain and even strengthen cooperation levels across the globe.

The findings are particularly uplifting in critical areas. Climate and technology cooperation have seen remarkable increases, demonstrating that when it matters most, nations can unite for the greater good. Clean technology deployment reached record-breaking levels in mid-2025, powered by robust global supply chains and innovative financing solutions. This represents a tremendous leap forward in our collective fight against climate change.

"Amid one of the most volatile and uncertain periods in decades, cooperation has shown resilience," said Børge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. His words capture the spirit of optimism that permeates the report. "Collaborative approaches are essential to grow economies wisely, accelerate innovation responsibly and prepare for the challenges of a more uncertain era."

The technology sector tells an especially inspiring story. Despite tighter controls in certain areas, innovation and technology cooperation have risen impressively. International bandwidth has expanded to four times pre-COVID levels, while IT services and talent flows continue to flourish across borders. New cooperation formats are emerging in cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence and 5G technology, showing that human ingenuity knows no boundaries.

Bob Sternfels, Global Managing Partner at McKinsey & Company, emphasized the transformative nature of this shift: "Leaders are reimagining collaboration across borders. Cooperation may look different today, and involve different partners, but importantly, it continues to deliver on some critical shared priorities."

The climate action picture is particularly bright. While challenges remain, clean technology deployment has surged, with developing economies stepping up their commitments in inspiring ways. Regional blocs like the European Union and ASEAN are creatively linking decarbonization efforts with energy security, proving that environmental action and economic stability can go hand in hand.

Health and wellness cooperation has held steady, building on lessons learned during the pandemic. Trade and capital cooperation, though evolving in composition, has remained robust, with services and capital flows gaining impressive momentum, particularly in areas supporting domestic capabilities.

The report evaluated cooperation across five interconnected dimensions: trade and capital, innovation and technology, climate and natural capital, health and wellness, and peace and security. What emerges is a picture of a world learning to work together in more flexible, nimble, and purpose-driven ways.

The message is clear and hopeful: humanity is proving its capacity to adapt and collaborate when faced with shared challenges. As nations rebuild dialogue with partners and identify common interests, we're witnessing not the end of cooperation, but its exciting transformation into something more dynamic and effective for our interconnected world.