European trade unions went to the Johannesburg Summit with a message: that the current income and natural resource use gap between North and South is not sustainable. More. it holds cause for alarm. Trade unions want world governments to adopt a global plan for sustainable development which will defeat poverty, protect the environment, and ensure respect for human and social rights.
 
The European trade unions recognise that the coordination of social, economic and environmental policies is essential to achieve truly sustainable development. Within this key challenge, three issues are identified as needing urgent attention; namely, (i) food and agriculture, (ii) climate change and energy, and (iii) chemical risks.