The court ruled in favour of researcher Gianluca Grimalda, who was dismissed in Germany for refusing to travel by plane: he will be compensated.
On 10 January 2025, scientist Gianluca Grimalda and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) reached a settlement at the Kiel Regional Labour Court, bringing to a close a legal dispute initiated by Grimalda over unfair dismissal. The case, initially rejected in February 2024, was resolved during the appeals process with an agreement establishing that the employment contract would be terminated due to a divergence of principles and values between the two parties involved.
Grimalda's dismissal had come about following his refusal to return to Germany by plane from Bougainville, an island in Papua New Guinea, where he had been conducting research into the relationship between globalisation, climate change and social cohesion. Despite the IfW's initial approval of a "slow travel" arrangement, Grimalda had not returned by the agreed date, due to visa delays and obstacles encountered during the project that had pushed back his departure. The institute he worked for had insisted he fly back in order to shorten the journey time. But he refused.
The IfW's decision to terminate the employment relationship had sparked debate, as it represented the first known case of dismissal linked to an employee's refusal to fly in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The settlement now reached in court provides for the IfW to withdraw the immediate termination of the contract and for Grimalda to be cleared of any contractual breach. The researcher will receive a severance payment, the amount of which remains confidential, and has committed to donating 75,000 euros to initiatives related to climate protection and environmental activism.
"I feel sad and happy at the same time," Grimalda said. "Sad because I have lost a job I loved. Happy because the judge has implicitly acknowledged the impossibility of dismissing an employee for refusing to take a plane. I hope my case inspires others to support the transition towards decarbonised, people-centred societies."
Grimalda also expressed his intention to continue his academic and climate work. This year he plans to return to Papua New Guinea on a new slow journey to deepen his study of how local communities are adapting to climate change. Once back, he will resume his environmental activism.
This case – which also inspired the documentary film The Researcher – represents a milestone in the growing intersection between labour law and climate commitment. According to lawyer Jörn A. Broschat, who defended Grimalda, "the legal situation remains uncertain for employees who prefer to travel in a climate-neutral way. However, it is time for legislators and social partners to recognise such convictions as fundamental workers' rights."
For more than ten years, Grimalda has embraced slow travel as a conscious choice to reduce his greenhouse gas emissions. He has calculated that the 28,000-kilometre journey from Papua New Guinea to Europe, completed without the use of aircraft, reduced emissions by a factor of ten compared to flying.
Wolfgang Cramer, research director at the CNRS in France, highlighted the importance of this approach: "Academics can raise the alarm about the climate crisis not only through their work, but also by reducing their own personal contribution to emissions."
The Grimalda case raises crucial questions about the balance between personal principles and professional obligations. His story could inspire institutions and companies to embrace more sustainable practices, marking a step forward on the path towards societies that are more respectful of the environment.