Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session

Forum: Environmental Commission

Issue: Evaluating the Impacts and Future Implications of

Student Officer: Jai Joshi

Position: Deputy Chair

Introduction In the past century, humanity has made revolutionary developments that have worked together to form society as it’s known today. New advancements allow the world in general to grow, with technological development leading the way into the future. Technological developments can have very large impact on the social, economical and environmental factors of the world, and although technology does have positive implications for these factors, many can portray negative impacts for the future. In light of this, it is important to evaluate the impacts and future implications of new technologies.

Genetic engineering poses a good candidate for this evaluation. Its applications are limitless, yet there are many environmental, economical and ethical barriers that need to be addressed. Genetic engineering is the artificial alteration of genetic information in an organic life form in order to produce a desired trait. The technology can be used to create foods with bigger sizes or greater longevity in order to help eradicate issues such as famine or poverty, to produce animals with traits of another, or to develop bio-weapons that can cause conflict and mass genocide. There is no debate about whether genetic engineering is becoming more prominent over time, as in the past fifteen years, the area of land that GMO crops now use has tripled, 67 to 189 million hectares. Genetic engineering has also seen revolutionary changes in the growth of certain crops, the top 3 being , soybean, and corn. Genetic engineering has a large amount of varying uses, with some being highly beneficial for human growth, and others not.

Genetic engineering can have vast implications for the future, yet the technology may have horrifying impacts as well. It is the Environmental Commission’s duty to regulate the development and usage of the technology, but to also aid in the implementation of genetic engineering in order to resolve issues such as famine and malnutrition. It is essential to place restrictions on the technology, as there can be disastrous consequences if misused, such as the development of bioweapons, the risk of negative health effects and possible mutations. Although genetic engineering is a controversial technology, with the help of UN bodies and the support of member nations, it could pose as a revolutionary path to a better future.

Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session Definition of Key Terms Genetics is the scientific field that studies , genetic variation, and heredity in organisms. Genetics is a part of , and geneticists study the basis of all living beings.

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution The Theory of Evolution, proposed by Charles Darwin is the development of species by passing on beneficial mutations. Those with better genetic traits would be more likely to survive, leading to them to pass on said genes to their offspring.

CRISPR CRISPR is a editing technology, which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. Derived from a bacterial defence system, CRISPR provides a new, more efficient method of genetic editing.

DNA DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid, which is the chemical substance that makes up an organism’s genetic structure.

Genetic Engineering Genetic engineering is the practice of altering one’s DNA through genetic editing methods. The process is used in order to edit the characteristics of an organism, in order to achieve a desired trait.

Genetically Modified Organisms A Genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism that has had their DNA of genetic structure altered through a method of genetic engineering. GMOs can be used for anything, from food with extra nutrition, to genetically modified biological weapons.

Characteristics These are traits or features that an organism has, which is passed on from their parents. These are controlled by genes, which are passed onto offspring through reproduction.

Genetic Variation Genetic variation is defined as the difference of genetic traits or characteristics. This can be seen as two siblings may share the same parents, yet they may have varying characteristics, such as different eye colours.

Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session

Species A species is a group of living things that have the ability to reproduce together in order to produce offspring of the same species. Species have similar traits and characteristics, yet variation does still exist within a species.

Mutation Mutations are changes in the genetic structure of an organism, that affects the characteristics of it. Mutations can be either positive, negative or neutral, and are vital in the process of evolution.

Augmentation Augmentation is the action or process of changing.

Key Issues

Ethical boundaries

Genetic engineering is the modification of an organism’s genome in order to produce a desired trait. With this, the process is essentially changing the genetic structure of a species and its millennia of adaptation and natural growth. Many may argue that the practice is unethical, and many may refer to the practice as ‘playing god,’ or messing with natural development. There are many who believe that genetic engineering and GMOs can be referred to as disrupting natural processes such as natural selection, as well as Darwin’s theory of evolution. Many cultures may disagree with genetic engineering as it may challenge their beliefs, or it may be seen as unnatural. One of the largest challenges with implementing genetic engineering is public opinion and how it can affect the world’s willingness to go forward with the development of the technology. From a more sceptical viewpoint, one might suggest that these genetic modifications may result in the creation of dangerous species that could result in numerous casualties. This raises ethical concerns as seems as if the technology could prove to be too dangerous and ultimately a practice that should be heavily restricted. As well as this, the development of genetic engineering technologies could amount to the specified modification of species including humans. This raises more ethical concerns as it challenges the idea of fairness, and could leave the human race as an idealist society.

Human modification Although far-fetched and unlikely, human modification and human DNA alteration are possible outcomes of the growing development of genetic engineering technologies. The technology has extremely controversial implications for humanity’s future, as well as ethical worries, as discussed

Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session earlier. The idea of human modification is the practice of genetically engineering human DNA, in order to get desired traits. The concept of designer babies has recently been idealised, with many thinking of its implications for society’s future. The idea is that in the future, people will have the option to have their children designed with specific traits, through the use of genetic engineering. However, the controversy behind the process is that it challenges the idea of individuality, and could result in ethical problems. The popularisation of this concept in pop-culture and science fiction have led the public to have a negative attitude towards and genetic engineering, and therefore puts forward the issue of public opinion and perspective.

Biological weaponry Another issue with the integration and application of genetic engineering is the threat of new types of weapons being developed. Genetic engineering could provide a new type of weaponry that can be used in conflicts, and could have a devastating effect on the world. Biological weaponry is the engineering of bacteria or any other pathogen, in order to make it have certain traits to enable it to be used as as weapon. Bio- weapons have the ability to affect numerous people at once, spread automatically, and can be programmed to stay dormant and undetected. For example, some of the most famous cases of bio-weapon usage were the 2001 Anthrax bioterror attacks, which took place shortly after the 9/11 tragedy. In these attacks, letters were sent containing the deadly bacteria known as anthrax, to random American citizens. This caused public outcry and panic, due to the ability to stay undetected that bio-weapons had. The attacks left 22 people hospitalized, with 5 casualties. Although the anthrax had not had any genetic modifications, it was still able to cause devastation. With this in mind, if genetically modified bio-weapons are developed, the devastation caused can be even more dangerous and even more contagious. In fact, genetically engineered bioweapons have been rated by specialists as the world’s most dangerous type of weaponry. Bio-weapons can be used during conflicts to inflict mass casualties in a much more controlled and devastating way. The development of weaponry is another issue, as although it may be unethical, it is a practice that militaries around the world partake in.

Health and nutrition Nutritionally speaking, genetically modified organisms can, in theory, provide a solution to the world’s health and nutrition problems. In food, certain traits can be applied through the use of genetic engineering, such as making the crops grow larger, enabling them to grow in different conditions, and modifying them to contain nutrients. However, many debate the fact that GMO products are healthy, while many more refute them, and actively seek out no-GMO foods and products. GMOs are seen by many as unhealthy, and there is a large number of health risks that are associated with the consumption and growth of GMOs.

Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session

Human health Genetically modified organisms are associated with a large number of health risks, which can potentially lead to bodily harm. Firstly, studies have linked the consumption of genetically modified foods to organ damage, immune disorders and instances of infertility in animals. As well as this, there have been instances where GMO products can leave a residue in the consumer, leading to health risks, such as the development of genetically modified growth hormones for cows that made their milk contain a large amount of hormone IGF-1, which has been linked to cancer. Lastly, a recent study conducted by the Public Library of Science, with 1000 human samples, found that the consumption of genetically modified foods can cause genetic information to be transferred into human DNA, as fragments of GMO material can enter the human circulatory system, and therefore cause genes to transfer over from the food. Due to these risks, as well as others, GMOs are avoided by a large portion of the human population, as they are seen as unhealthy.

Agriculture Additionally, GMO crops promote the usage of herbicides and pesticides. In the agricultural industry, allowing their crops to become herbicide resistant and pesticide resistant made farmers’ lives much easier, as they could then use the chemicals more freely. This, however, came with negative backlashes, as these resistant plants would go on to contain residues of the chemicals, which if consumed, can lead to harm. Ironically, because of the extreme use of the chemicals, herbicide resistant weeds, known as ‘superweeds,’ came into fruition. To conclude, genetically modified organisms have the potential to be destructive, so caution and restriction is a high priority.

Environmental Impacts From the greater environmental perspective, genetic engineering poses a threat to the many virtues that nature has. Primarily, genetic engineering is seen as an unnatural practice, and this is for good reason. As stated previously, genetic engineering goes against Darwin’s theory of evolution, as it stops organisms from being able to grow and mutate naturally, as well as the mixing of traits from separate species. Species are unable to reproduce with those outside their species, therefore the odds of this happening are highly unlikely. As well as this, the phenomena known as genetic . Genetic pollution occurs when a genetically modified organism reproduces with a non-GM organism. This is most common with plants, as due to cross- pollination, the plants then reproduce, which would then carry on the traits of the existing variation of the plant. This is a detriment, as unwanted genetic material could mix with other organisms, which could sometimes be incompatible with the gene, leading to serious issues. As well as this, animals can also suffer from genetic pollution by consuming genetically altered food, including humans. This is because the consumption of

Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session genetically engineered foods can cause genetic contamination and lead to genetic mutations. There are methods to avoid genetic pollution, therefore caution and restraint is crucial.

Funding and development Due to the controversial nature of genetic engineering and GMOs, many investors and venture capitalists are reluctant to provide the proper financial aid to foster genetic research and its development. Depending on the political stance of the country, governments also observe the same reluctance to fund the research. The development of genetically modified organisms has large amounts of socio-political stigma surrounding it, with many questioning the practice. Investors find it unprofitable if their products do not appeal to public demand, and if they cannot be supported by the government. Additionally, the safety standards required for the development of new genetically modified organisms are costly, and in countries that are opposed to the technology, it can be seen as an argument to not entertain the practice at all.

Major Parties Involved and Their Views

The United States of America (USA)

The United States of America is ranked as the nation with the highest usage of genetically modified organisms and foods in the whole world. In a study conducted in 2014, the USA was found to have 73.1 million acres of land occupied by genetically modified crops, almost double the size of land used by the next highest country in GMO usage, Brazil. Genetically modified organisms have recently become a prominent part of the US agricultural industry, with 90% of the corn, soybean and cotton grown in the United States being a genetically modified variant. The United States by far has the most tolerance of genetic engineering technologies.

The United States Department of (USDA) fully supports the usage of genetically modified organisms as well as the conduction of biotechnological research. Due to this, GMO crops have been widely accepted into the agricultural practices. It is important for governments to be the ones to integrate the technologies, to ensure that the public feels safe using GMOs.

A resolution on the topic could be either beneficial or detrimental to the United States of America, as it could either make genetic engineering a more available asset, or it could restrict the development of the technology to the point where it can no longer be used. Allies and trade partners of the United States should keep this in mind, as this could affect the economies and relationships of both parties.

Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session France and the European Union

France, being a member of the European Union, has a negative stance toward genetically modified organisms, and therefore has heavy restrictions on the practice of genetic engineering and modification. France has to comply with the laws of the European Union, including the framework of laws that impose boundaries and regulations on GMO growers and suppliers. In France, only certain genetically modified products are allowed to be sold on the market. As well as this, there are strict laws regarding the areas of which GMOs are grown and the labelling of said crops. The EU takes these measures due to their unwillingness to spread GMOs into the non-GMO environments of countries. This is further cemented by GMO growers having to make their locations public information, as well as liability laws regarding the spread of genetically modified variants into non-GMO fields. Such a stance is taken in countries such as France, due to not only political but also social beliefs. Anti- GMO non-governmental organizations are very prominent in France and the European Union, as well as 79% of French citizens being worried about the presence of genetically modified organisms in their food. The European Union, including other countries such as Germany, Hungary, Greece, etc. that have similar stances to France, as well as allies of the European Union should take note of the it’s stance.

The World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and regulation of genetically modified organisms. The organization is aware of the benefits of GMO products, as well as the detriments they pose. What the WHO aims to do is to set up a panel in order to evaluate whether certain GMOs should be able to be sold on the market. As well as this, they see that genetically modified organisms can help combat famine and malnutrition in impoverished areas around the world, by using GMOs to produce more bountiful and nutritious foods and crops. Furthermore, the World Health Organization could play a role in the funding and fostering the development of this technology. The UN body may very well have to play a large role in the popularization and the integration of the technology, and are therefore for the usage of genetic engineering.

The Council for Responsible Genetics (CRG)

The Council for Responsible Genetics is a non-profit organization that is a forum for debating on the responsibilities required for handling genetic technologies. The organization allows for the public to voice their opinions on the matter, and provides guidelines for genetic research firms to follow based on the responsibilities they must keep in mind. Additionally, the council publishes a magazine twice a month, known as GeneWatch, that highlights the latest developments of genetic technologies, such as CRISPR, as well as allowing articles to be submitted by the public about their views. The organization is important to the issue as it looks at the problem from the

Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session public’s perspective, rather than economics or the politics of the issue. Although the organisation is based in the United States, the magazines are published online, and can be viewed globally.

The African Union (AU)

The African Union has a lot to gain from the usage of genetically modified organisms, both economically and socially. A large portion of the world’s less economically developed countries are part of the African Union, and these member states tend to suffer from large scale famine and poverty. Famine is a very common occurrence in Africa, due to factors such as drought, , and human conflict. Although the United Nations tries to implement solutions to eliminate those three, food scarcity and malnutrition still poses a large threat on its own, due to there not being many African families who are financially struggling, to acquire the food they need. Genetic modification provides somewhat of a solution to the problem, as with greater sizes and nutritional value, it would require less effort to be able to grow the crops and therefore is a beneficial development for the African agricultural sector. However, the process of integrating biotechnology is not that easy. As can be seen in the Southern African food crisis, where many African governments were led by activist groups to reject the incoming GM food donations. It is important to ensure that the citizens and governments feel comfortable with the usage of genetically modified organisms. As well as this, Africa may be a crucial part of growing GMO crops, due to how they can be genetically engineered to withstand the climates of Africa, such as drought, in particular. With this, famine and economic loss can be avoided, and one of the largest problems of the African continent can be eradicated.

Development of Issue/Timeline Date Event Outcome

1975 The initiation of “The biological The purpose of this convention is to weapons convention” control the use of biological weapons that can be used for mass destruction in the world. 23rd August 2002 Southern African GM food crisis Governments in the region were reluctant to accept food donations that contained GMOs, specifically from the United States. This led to subsequent famine and malnutrition, as well as political distrust and public outcry. The UN World Food Program (WFP) released a

Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session statement to tell donors to provide financial aid, rather than food donations. This was ideal as it allowed the governments to be more flexible. 12th May 2003 Medical ethics in the age of genetic The United Nations Education, Scientific engineering and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) panel conducted a dialogue on the topic of genetic engineering practices in medicine, resulting in the conclusion that there can be terrifying environmental, political and social impacts for the future. This thus allowed the member states of the UN to have a more unified view. 8th March 2005 The prohibition of all forms of The General Assembly voted to adopt human the UN Declaration on Human Cloning, in order to prohibit the practice of human cloning, a form of genetic technology. This allowed for the immoral practice to be ruled out, therefore strengthening the moral and ethical values the UN has. 23rd June 2005 Risk assessment for GM foods The World Health Organisation (WHO) Food Safety Department released a report regarding the benefits and the risks of GMO products. This was a positive occurrence, as it helped to raise awareness and eliminate some of the stigma surrounding GMOs. May 2017 Human Stem cells grown in a lab In the future, this could have great uses for the first time. to treat people who are suffering with blood diseases such as leukaemia. This was a great moment of development for the medical and technological world.

Previous Attempts to Solve the Issue

Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session ICGEB research grants

The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) has been supporting projects and scientific studies in the field of genetic engineering and biotechnology. The organisation believes that genetic engineering will be a prominent part of the future, and therefore does its best to enable it. The organisation has regularly given out grants in order to finance genetic research, in fields such as agriculture, medicine, and many other genetics related fields. This can be seen as a positive action towards the greater usage of genetic engineering, as financing research is pivotal when making the developments of discoveries required. In order to develop a medicine, pharmaceutical companies have to invest large amounts of money into its creation. The financial aid from the organisation allows for independent scientists and researchers to develop on their ideas. The ICGEB financially supports numerous projects and investigations into an array of issues, ranging from environmental bio-safety and human molecular genetics. Overall, it is imperative that governments and UN bodies do see the need to finance genetic research, in order to allow for more flexibility in the development of these technologies. However, it must be kept in mind that the government should be financing the right projects, those that seek to aid, rather than harm.

The European GMO legislation The European Union, as discussed previously, has a negative stance when it comes to genetic engineering and the sale of GMO products. The EU has banned a large amount of genetically modified products, while allowing some to be approved for the market. However, they have also made it possible for countries to ban the sale of certain approved goods if the country itself does not want those goods to be sold, allowing for more flexibility. The EU believes that in doing this, it would help protect the environment and the of the area. This is a great initiative, as introducing genetically modified organisms into landscapes and biomes that they are not suited for, can ruin the ecosystems of those areas. Due to this, the EU has put laws in place, that restrict the places of which these GMOs can grow, as well as heavy repercussions in case of contamination in the surrounding non-GMO fields. Over time, the need for these laws will start to disappear, with the introduction of safer containment and more suitable genetic variants being developed. While the EU’s actions may be seen as harsh, it is important for governments to ensure the safety of the environment and the citizens of their countries.

Anti-GMO organizations

Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session The largest challenge by far when it comes to genetically modified organisms is the negative public appearance that it has. Due to the controversy presented by genetic engineering, there are organizations and activist groups that are opposed to the usage of GMO products. This is because of various reasons. GMOs can be seen as unhealthy and unnatural. Although this may be true to some extent, it is an unreasonable generalization about genetically modified organisms. There are genetically modified organisms that are not suitable for the market, yet that does not necessarily mean that all other GMOs are harmful. Anti-GMO groups do tend to have some valid points for their arguments, such as examples of negative health and environmental effects. The also provide some elegant solutions, such as actively trying to implement better labelling systems for products that contain GMOs, and improving transparency between GMO users, and the general public. Anti-GMO groups may seem radical in a way, yet the propose some innovative ideas in the restriction and regulation of unsafe GMO products.

Examples of useful GMOs in the past There have been many instances where researchers and developers have contributed to the eradication of world issues, through the use of genetic engineering. For example, annually, half a million children lose their eyesight due to vitamin A deficiency, with half of them dying within 12 months after contracting the disease. Most of these children live in less economically developed countries. In these countries, rice remains as a prominent part of the country’s food and economy. In order to tackle the epidemic, a Swiss geneticist named Ingo Potrykus developed a type of rice known as ‘,’ which contained high amounts of vitamin A, and was accessible and easy to grow. GMO’s also save people’s lives on a daily basis. Those who suffer from type 1 diabetes have to take in a constant supply of insulin, as their bodies are not able to create sufficient amounts of insulin themselves. Rather than having to take insulin from a human donor, which would mean regular extractions of a substance the donor requires, pharmaceutical companies looked for an alternative. With the development of genetically modified bacteria that could produce insulin, those with type 1 diabetes are now able to get safe, inexpensive and readily available insulin. The use of GMOs can be regarded as a medical tool. It has already been proven that they are effective, and the GMO solutions such as those mentioned have done their job of showing that the use of genetic engineering can save lives, and therefore has had a substantial implication for the growth and popularisation of genetically engineered products.

Possible Solutions

Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session Increasing governmental and corporate transparency

In order to allow the citizen of countries to feel safe and comfortable with the consumption of GMO products, transparency has become a fundamental concept that must be kept in mind. A large part of the distrust a consumer may have when it comes to genetic modification, is how it seems unnatural, and the unsettling corporate focus that GMOs seem to resemble. Many citizens feel that GMO products are scams created by corporate forces, to maximize efficiency, and in turn disregarding human and environmental health. Increasing transparency in businesses that use GMOs in their products can benefit both parties. Firstly, it allows the consumer to feel safe when buying products that contain genetically engineered variants. As well as this, businesses will earn an increased profit from the larger amounts of customers that the have. This could be done through better communication and labelling from the side of the business. The same must be conducted with governments as well, in order to ensure that the public is aware of the laws on GMOs. It is a vital part of ensuring that GMOs can be integrated into society, and that they are accepted by the general public.

Establishing an approval panel With genetic engineering, it is important to understand that there are GMOs that are not viable for the market, and can cause harm. With this, it is highly important to allow for some method of approving GMO products, and ensuring that they are safe to use for the market. Many nations have already adopted this, however, it is crucial to regulate this for international markets as well, as GMO goods that are legal in one country may be illegal in others, creating economic conflict. The World Health Organization has already proposed this, however, there was no further discussion regarding it. In order to implement this, it would require full UN backing, and the willingness to devote human resources such as analysts and geneticists to be able to classify what is safe and what is not. It would also require member states to feel comfortable with the rulings of the panel, and to give them the right to elect those who they see fit to be part of it. However, the solution may come with drawbacks within itself. Due to the nature of the panel, companies that may want to have their products approved may resort to bribery or other forms of corruption. Due to the panel being an approval based on few individuals, rather than a larger scale committee, this may be something that might occur. To combat this, it is important to ensure that those on the committee are responsible, through methods such as background checks, as well as ensuring that the activities of the panel are transparent, as well as publicised effectively. This solution allows for a more neutral stance to be taken when tackling this controversial issue, as it does not eliminate the usage of genetic engineering, yet it does not completely support it either. Such an organization is crucial for the integration of genetic engineering technologies into the future, allowing the UN to fully examine its impacts and implications.

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Appendix or Appendices i. CRISPR and Designer Babies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAhjPd4uNFY

ii. UN Statement on the Southern-African GM Food Crisis: https://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp076534.pdf?_ga=2.1571 87195.1174461301.1532242456-1518107061.1532242456