Please Frau Chancellor

In an advert published in the German newspaper Handelsblatt, the 71 signatories urged Merkel "not to let up until it is certain that governments in Copenhagen will agree on a legally binding and ratifiable treaty."

The open letter speaks of the German chancellor's "historic responsibility" to ensure that the summit bears fruit. "Failure would have catastrophic consequences," it adds.

In addition, the appeal refers to Germany's "moral responsibility" to help combat climate change. The signatories call upon Germany to bear its fair share in helping developing countries face the challenges of climate change.

More help for poorer nations

The country should earmark 7 to 10 billion euros ($10.3 to 14.6 billion)a year from now until 2020, in addition to the 0.7 percent of GDP that is currently allocated, according to the advertisement.

As well as several German bishops and Alfred T. Ritter, the head of the German chocolate making dynasty Ritter Sport, the appeal's backers include academics, cultural sector and union representatives, environmentalists, and heads of aid and development organizations, such as Paul Bendix, CEO of Oxfam Germany.

The initiative was organized by the Klima-Allianz (Climate Alliance), an alliance of some 100 organizations that support action against global warming and climate change.

jg/AP/epd/kna
Editor: Mark Mattox