The climate scientist Dr. Grimalda, who refused to fly for his research trip and was fired as a result, has won a legal victory. In an unusual turn of events, his former employer has decided to offer legal compensation for his dismissal. Meanwhile, his lawyer in the case has asked an interesting question. Is this the beginning of a new perspective on how our work affects the state of the earth?

What’s the story? When scientist Dr. Gianluca Grimalda travelled 42,000 kilometers without flying for a research project in 2023, things turned out differently than expected. His trip was for the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel). It was about the (social) consequences of climate change on earth. The complete trip would take him from Germany to Papua New Guinea and back. But Dr. Grimalda’s decision to travel without air travel whenever possible, a total journey that took him about 110 days, had cost him his job. In the media he became ‘the scientist who refused to fly‘.

In light of his research, his decision to avoid flying as much as possible seems logical. A moral obligation of a scientist who did the research and did the travelling. After all, we know that air travel has negative consequences for the health of the planet. For example, some experts say that one long-haul flight produces more emissions than any other lifestyle activity in a year.

Sheep delay

It was difficult to plan the date of his return. If only because of all kinds of delays. From sheep on the road to visa problems and everything in between (although you could say that air travel also involves delays). But in today’s world, it’s important to set a date and stick to it. And especially for a large institution like the IfW, such planning was simply necessary.

During his trip, Dr. Grimalda did point out on social media that he was able to do the work for the research while travelling. “There is nothing I have to do in Kiel that I cannot do while travelling. Nothing,” he was quoted in the New York Times. But, after Dr. Grimalda had not appeared in Kiel on the agreed date, his contract was terminated.

Air travel: labour v climate

But now, a more recent development has been added to this “running story.” Dr. Grimalda and his former employer have reached an unprecedented agreement on a settlement in the lawsuit for unfair dismissal. “I hope that my case will inspire more employees, institutions and companies to actively support the transition from fossil fuel-based economies to decarbonised and people-centred societies.” These were the words of Dr. Grimalda in Euro News in light of this recent turnaround by his former employer.

It was a strong statement about his monetary compensation. Part of which (€75,000) will go to environmental and climate protection and climate activism, Dr. Grimalda told Perspective Living. This was also a statement about the role of our work in climate change. And his specialist labour lawyer of the lawsuit, Jörn A. Broschat, LL.M., had added in the same media report: “This case highlights the growing intersection between labour law and climate-conscious practices.”

In fact, Mr. Broschat highlighted something else in the report. “It represents a milestone in the emerging discussion about the rights of employees to stand up for their climate principles as part of their professional obligations,” he said.

Looking to the future, Broscha made another point in Euro News. “This is just the beginning of undoubtedly numerous labour law decisions,” he said. Adding: “This will address the complex interplay between climate change and the interests of employees and employers.”

“This is just the beginning of undoubtedly numerous labour law decisions. This will address the complex interplay between climate change and the interests of employees and employers.

The Researcher: A documentary about the trip

A documentary called ‘The Researcher’ about the journey was made by Paolo Casalis. It can be found here.

A trailer for it is also available to Perspective Living readers here:

Dr Grimalda: Offering new perspectives on work and earth?

You could say the efforts of people like Dr. Grimalda and his lawyer offer the world new perspectives. Like this one about work, the earth and our future. For example, we can call this a reasonable dismissal for someone who does not show up at the agreed time. But now, with this perspective in mind, we can also consider that not all cases are black and white in today’s more complex world. That even if we don’t believe in climate change, what we do as people does have an effect. And that other factors, such as the condition of the earth, are just as important, if not more so. Or that without a healthy, well-functioning earth there is not much work to be done in the first place…

Read our former story on Dr Grimalda here: A scientist’s almost-plane-free journey of 50,000 kilometres. A crazy story, or one that needs to be told?