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Use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and its impact on global biodiversity will soon come under the scanner of the United Nations Environment Programme.
The UN’s environment arm has decided to take up, for the first time, detailed assessment of impact of GMOs on the world’s natural resources.
The report will be significant as it could well form a strong scientific basis for future policy decisions regarding the use of GM crops and insects for several countries that are parties to the UN Convention on Biological diversity, including India.
“We have not yet done any serious assessment on GMOs yet. We now intend to make a detailed assessment on their impact on biodiversity, as it has now become a global issue,” Amina Mohamed, UNEP Deputy Executive Director and UN Assistant Secretary General, told Business Line on the sidelines of the on-going UN meet on biological diversity.
She said the assessment report would bring out scientific evidences on impact of GMO use. “We are trying to mobilise funds from governments for the assessment studies,” she said.
Dead zones
Another focus area of UNEP is the increasing dead zones on ocean surface due to over exploitation of fishery resources, climate changes and other factors. Dead zones on ocean surface are areas where fishery resources have depleted or died and, in some areas, even oxygen levels have nearly bottomed out.
“The spread of dead zone on ocean surface is increasing. But efforts by counties such as the Philippines and Indonesia to revive such zones are encouraging,” Amina said.
Even the rate of coastal dead zones is increasing. Out of the 169 coastal dead zones worldwide, only 13 are recovering, while another 415 coastal areas suffer from eutrophication. This is a process in which pollutants cause proliferation of plant life, especially algae, leading to dissolved oxygen content in water bodies and subsequent death of other organisms.
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