Climate Change – Religion/Belief for the purposes of Discrimination Legislation

legal updates

A 'philosophical belief' under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003

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In the case of Granger v Nicholson an employee was committed to a belief about man made climate change and the moral requirements associated with that. 

It was held to be a ‘philosophical belief’ under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 and therefore a case of discrimination was valid.

In that case there were requirements set out which give boundaries to the definition including: 

  • it must be a genuinely held belief
  • not an opinion/viewpoint on present state of information
  • must be a belief as to a substantial aspect of human life/behaviour
  • must reach a certain level of urgency, seriousness, cohesion and importance
  • must be worthy of respect in a democratic society be not incompatible with human dignity, and not conflict with fundamental rights of others.

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