Launched ahead of Organic September, the Change.org petition asks whoever comes to power to protect wildlife in any policies - and commit to representing the UK at the crucially important UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December.
Not only are insects a vital part of a balanced ecosystem, providing food for other animals and recycling nutrients, they also play an essential role in our global food system. One in three mouthfuls of food depends on pollinators and without pollinators we wouldn't have potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, coffee, chocolate or cotton.
Renowned children’s author and illustrator, Kate Pankhurst, who is also a relation of Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, was the first person to sign the petition. She has thrown her support behind the campaign, also creating an illustration to depict insects holding placards in protest against the harmful pesticides and fertilisers that are being sprayed on crops - which is ultimately leading to their decline.
Image on the right: Illustration by Kate Pankhurst