A leading climate scientist from New Zealand is taking his claim for unfair dismissal against a government-owned environmental consultancy company to the country’s Employment Relations Authority.

Jim Salinger told Radio New Zealand that mediation with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research had failed. “Unfortunately, common sense did not prevail,” he said (NZPA).

Salinger claims he was sacked in April for unauthorised discussions with the media on issues related to climate change. “It was very shocking,” he told Nature at the time. “I was talking about my publicly funded science.”

According to Radio New Zealand, Salinger expects the authority to rule on his case in August or September.

Earlier this month NIWA claimed mediation was progressing positively, but could not comment further due to confidentiality agreements.