Green crusader wins tribunal battle

Tim Nicholson can take his former employer to tribunal, an appeal judge has ruled

An environmentalist has won his fight to take his former employer to a tribunal on the grounds that he was dismissed for his green views.

A case brought by Tim Nicholson against Grainger plc can now go ahead after an employment appeal judge ruled in his favour.

Mr Nicholson, 42, from Oxford, has claimed his opinions were ignored by senior managers at Grainger plc, the UK's biggest residential landlord.

His solicitor, Shah Qureshi, said: "Essentially what the judgment says is that a belief in man-made climate change and the alleged resulting moral imperative is capable of being a philosophical belief and is therefore protected by the 2003 religion or belief regulations."

In March, employment judge David Neath gave Mr Nicholson permission to take the firm to tribunal over his treatment.

But the ruling was challenged by Grainger on the grounds that green views are not the same as religious or philosophical beliefs.

Mr Nicholson claims that his opinions affect his whole lifestyle. He does not travel by plane and has renovated his home to be more eco-friendly.

In a witness statement to a previous hearing, he said: "I have a strongly-held philosophical belief about climate change and the environment.

"I believe we must urgently cut carbon emissions to avoid catastrophic climate change.

"This affects how I live my life... I encourage others to cut their carbon emissions and I fear for the future of the human race."