CNN
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Climate researcher Dr Gianluca Grimalda says he risks losing his position at Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy by refusing to use the plane for the return journey from Papua New Guinea.
Grimalda plans to return to Germany from her research trip without flying to reduce her carbon emissions by 90%, and instead intends to travel by ferry, bus, train and cargo ship.
However, he said the organization had given him three days to return by October 2, which would have forced him to fly, according to a statement from climate group Scientists Rebellion.
Grimalda told CNN that the Kiel Institute asked him to “wait for notice/another request to appear in Kiel while traveling by plane” and that they would “then issue a letter of resignation” after he failed to return. show yourself again
He added in a statement that his salary for September had not been paid and his offer of unpaid leave had been rejected.
The Kiel Institute told CNN it “does not comment publicly on internal personnel matters.” On business trips, the organization helps its employees travel in an eco-friendly manner.
When asked about Grimalda’s claim that she was not paid her September salary, the Kiel Institute said it would not comment publicly on “internal personnel matters to protect our employees…”.
Grimalda, an experimental economist and science rebel activist, has been doing fieldwork in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea for six months, studying the relationship between globalization, climate change and social cohesion.
Grimalda’s travel authorization expired on September 10, but the search for him took longer than initially planned due to a number of security threats – including at one point being held hostage by a group armed with machetes. A statement from Scientist Banda said that all his belongings were confiscated.
As the climate crisis intensifies, the impact of aviation has come under increasing scrutiny. Commercial aviation is responsible for 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions each year, and demand for flights – and emissions – is expected to increase significantly in the coming years.. Alternatively, climate activists such as Greta Thunberg have created more environmentally friendly modes of travel such as ships or trains.
“I am prepared to face all the legal and financial consequences of this decision,” Grimalda said in a statement. “Ultimately, this is also a mental health issue. My psychological state can only be described as weather anxiety, and flying can make it worse.
Grimalda took 35 days to reach Papua New Guinea from Germany earlier this year, traveling 15,000 kilometers (9,321 miles) overland to Singapore before boarding a flight for the second leg of the journey.
He is currently in Papua New Guinea before boarding a cargo ship on October 8 for the long journey back to Germany.
