World leaders are being called on to commit to a fast, fair and funded phase-out of fossil fuels ahead of COP29.

Members of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition gathered in Dublin today for a photoshoot depicting Lady Justice dripping in oil.

Pictured covered in oil is Lady Justice (Gemma Roche) a world-renowned symbol of justice, fairness and equality – holding a weighing-scales symbolising the global injustice around the impacts of climate change and the resources to tackle it. Photo: Mark Stedman. 10/11/2024

Siobhan Curran, the head of policy and advocacy with Trócaire, said that the photoshoot highlights the global injustice around the impacts of climate change.

“We want to really ensure that richer countries pay for the climate damages that they've caused,” she said.

“This is crucial to redress the inequality that poorer countries are facing because they're being left to pay the price for climate carnage that they have nothing to do with causing.”

Pictured covered in oil is Lady Justice (Gemma Roche) a world-renowned symbol of justice, fairness and equality – holding a weighing-scales symbolising the global injustice around the impacts of climate change and the resources to tackle it. Photo: Mark Stedman. 10/11/2024

Both the photoshoot and the climate crisis are shocking and should inspire us to act, according to Ms Curran.

“I think we have to ensure that we shock, that we reflect, that we think about what more that we can do to address climate,” she said.

“We're seeing the climate crisis escalate out of control.

“We're all shocked at the scenes in Valencia – we need that shock now to come to the decision-making spaces.”

Pictured covered in oil is Lady Justice (Gemma Roche) a world-renowned symbol of justice, fairness and equality – holding a weighing-scales symbolising the global injustice around the impacts of climate change and the resources to tackle it. Photo: Mark Stedman. 10/11/2024

In regards to the election, Ms Curran said climate should be a ‘top priority’.

“It's important that the election is seen as a chance to push climate,” she said.

“Climate should be a top priority for all our candidates; climate is an election issue.

“So, we need people to talk about climate on the doors, to push their politicians.

“We need our politicians to continue to show leadership, and we need long-term thinking, not short-term thinking.

“COP29 is one moment where we can achieve a lot for climate equality, but also the election is [as well], and we need a government in place that will put climate at its top priority and that will inform all its decisions.”

Simon Harris and other notable world leaders – including US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen – will not be in attendance at COP29 this year.

Photos by Mark Stedman.