Rainn Wilson has modified his name to protest climate change — to Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson.
“The Office” star announced his name change on Twitter Wednesday ahead of the United Nations climate change conference COP27 summit in Egypt this week.
“With the assistance of my scientist friends at Arctic Basecamp, I’ve modified my name to Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson,” Wilson said. “This just isn’t a joke, I’m as serious because the melting Arctic, which amplifies global risks including extreme weather events across the globe.”
The 56-year-old actor is a board member of Arctic Basecamp, a team of Arctic experts and scientists who bring their expertise to events world wide.
“I’m so grateful to Arctic Basecamp’s very long time supporter, who has modified his name to Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson, to assist us warn people about global climate impacts on account of the melting Arctic,” said Gail Whiteman, Arctic Basecamp founder and professor of sustainability on the UK’s University of Exeter Business School.
Wilson said he hopes to lift awareness about global environmental issues and the implications from the warming Arctic.
“I’m hoping this name change brings attention to this growing… er, melting issue. We want world leaders at COP27 to take notice and take motion. The Arctic is melting at tens of millions of liters per second, yet this problem can’t appear to make a reputation for itself, so it’s as much as us to make a reputation for it,” he explained.
Wilson shared that he modified his name using the Arctic Risk Name Generator website, though it’s unclear if he has plans to officially change his name.
“Go to ArcticRiskName.org and create a reputation that can bring attention to this problem. Then – and that is the vital part – change your social media profile or display name to match your latest ArcticRisk name. And if enough of us do that, then perhaps COP27 can be where our world leaders sit up and spot Arctic risks and introduce an answer,” Wilson encouraged his followers.
