In a settlement reached on January 10, climate researcher Gianluca Grimalda and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) agreed that the former employee would receive a severance payment following his dismissal. The background to the court case was that Grimalda had refused to return within five days after a research trip to the Pacific, as requested by the IfW. This would only have been possible by plane – however, the economist wanted to travel by cargo ship, ferry, train and bus, as he did on the outward journey, in order to reduce emissions. This is also reportedly the original agreement with the institute.