Climate change deniers not at risk of WEF arrest

People who deny the existence of human-induced climate change are not about to be arrested. (AP PHOTO)

What was Claimed

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has ordered governments to arrest people who deny climate change is happening.

Our Verdict

False. The person said to have made the statement is not associated with the WEF, and he did not say climate change deniers should be arrested.

AAP FACTCHECK – A website with a history of spreading misinformation claims the World Economic Forum (WEF) has ordered governments to arrest all climate change deniers.

The claim is false. The man said to have issued the “order” is a British meteorology consultant who told AAP FactCheck he has no links with the WEF, a global economic forum and think tank.

He also didn't make any order or call for the arrest of all climate change deniers.

What he did say is that it should be illegal to promote climate denial in the media.

The false claim appears in an article published by The People’s Voice, a prolific publisher of viral misinformation and fake clickbait news stories.

People on Facebook have been sharing the link to the article.

A crossed out Facebook post of People's Voice WEF climate change story
One of the Facebook posts sharing the disinformation.

AAP FactCheck has previously debunked numerous claims published by the website.

The WEF is also a common target for conspiracy theorists, who claim the forum is part of a global plot to disempower citizens via various nefarious means.

The article in question is headlined: “WEF Orders Govt’s To Arrest Citizens Who Oppose Man-Made Climate Change Narrative.”

It describes how environmentalist Jim Dale said it should be illegal for people to “promote” climate change denialism during a TV segment aired on GB News on May 12.

Mr Dale tells AAP FactCheck that the claim he spoke on behalf of the WEF is “totally false”.

The former military meteorologist and founder of meteorology consultancy British Weather Services says he’s not employed by the WEF and has no formal links to the organisation.

The WEF website does not include any reference to anybody called Jim Dale.

The People’s Voice article did not explain how or why it believed Mr Dale was associated with the WEF.

World Economic Forum sign at the congress centre on the eve of Davos
The WEF has issued no arrest instructions to governments about climate change deniers.

During the TV interview, Mr Dale did not call for arrests either; he said promoting climate denialism should be banned in the mainstream media.

“Denial is factually wrong,” the social commentator says (1 minute, 36 seconds).

“It pollutes the political discourse.”

The deceptive article claimed Mr Dale’s argument amounted to saying that all climate deniers should be jailed.

However, the meteorology consultant clarified in the interview that he is not advocating for people to be arrested for their private climate change views.

“You can continue to have your denial to yourself, to your family, in the front room. Nobody is going to bash the door down and arrest you,” Mr Dale says (06:56).

“I’m talking about in the public domain.”

The Verdict

The claim that the WEF has ordered governments to arrest all climate change deniers is false. The person said to have issued the “order” is a British meteorology consultant named Jim Dale, who is not associated with the WEF.

Mr Dale also said it should be illegal to promote climate change denialism in the media, but he did not say all climate change deniers should be arrested.

False – The claim is inaccurate.

AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store