Reme 2: Young voices are demanding Climate Finance

BY STEVE EPHRAEM

CHILDREN in the districts of Chipinge and Chimanimani in Zimbabwe, through a film titled “Reme 2 (Climate Justice),” are raising their voices to demand climate justice, as their communities face repeated climate-induced disasters year after year. Their call for action finds powerful validation in a new report from ActionAid, which asserts that rich, polluting nations owe Africa a staggering US$36 trillion in climate debt.

The report, “Who Owes Who? External debts, climate debts and reparations in the Jubilee year,” presents a damning comparison. It calculates that these wealthy countries owe low and middle-income nations a total of US$107 trillion for their disproportionate role in the climate crisis. This figure dwarfs the US$1.45 trillion in foreign debt collectively owed by lower-income countries, making the climate debt over 70 times larger.

Furthermore, the analysis highlights a profound injustice that while African nations are burdened with extortionate loan interest rates averaging 9.8%, the polluting countries face no financial penalties for their failure to meet longstanding climate finance commitments. This inaction means the substantial debt of at least US$36 trillion owed to Africa remains unpaid, separate from wider debts owed for historical exploitation and broken promises.

This compelling data echoes a narrative already brought to life in the film, “Reme 2 (Climate Justice),” written and directed by Chimanimani-based filmmaker Steve Ephraem. The movie that was produced by Inclusive Global Media (IGM) tells the touching story of 17-year-old Reme, who loses her parents to Tropical Cyclone Idai, only to have her hope pinned on her younger sibling, Fani. Unfortunately, Fani also dies from injuries sustained during the disaster.

Driven by grief and anger, Reme mobilises other young people to demand accountability, forming a climate action group. She confronts a local authority figure, Cheyameni, urging her to support their cause by banning destructive charcoal production and promoting tree planting. However, Cheyameni, who is implicated in kickbacks from the charcoal trade, dispatches her secretary who is also Reme’s own uncle, Senda, to silence the activists. When Reme refuses to be silenced, she is killed by Senda, an act that goes beyond Cheyameni’s intentions.

Reme’s death becomes a catalyst. Richie, a former sceptic within the group, is moved to take up Reme’s responsibility, leading the young voices in their unwavering pursuit of climate justice and finance from those in power.

The film ends with the children chanting a slogan:

“What do we want? Climate Justice. What do we need? Climate Finance.

The film carries a resolute message to the Global North that attempts to suppress the demand for climate justice are futile. The demand for climate compensation, it argues, will persist until Africa and the Global South see meaningful action from the world’s major polluters.

“Reme 2 (Climate Justice)” is available to watch on the Inclusive Global Media’s YouTube channel – INCLUSIVE GLOBAL MEDIA.