Meet Morgan Goodwin
An interview with the Executive Director of the Planetary Sunshade Foundation. Morgan is a civic leader, organizer, and environmentalist. We discuss Morgan’s experience in activism, his perspective on how to build a movement, and why now is the best time for the Planetary Sunshade.
Why is now the time for a project like the Planetary Sunshade?
Simply put, the dire state of global warming, and the risk of tipping points, is terrifying.
As this gets worse, I feel compelled to look at a wider set of ideas of how to maintain a livable climate. The sunshade is a promising idea! It’s also a challenge to think on very big scales, thinking which I believe brings a positive focus to our efforts. The benefits of a sunshade could be tremendous, meaning this is not only a project born out of desperation, but it is also a project full of optimism for the future.
Can you recall a particular sci-fi narrative that first introduced you to the concept of large-scale planetary engineering or climate intervention?
The Dune books introduce the concept of a “planetologist”, through the character Liet-Kynes. I was fascinated by the notion that someone’s job could be to study the planet and work to alter the climate for human benefit. I especially liked how the Dune books intertwine cultural water management with environmental engineering—telling a story about survival, adaptation, and planetary change across generations.
What inspires you about the planetary sunshade project?
Morgan (right) and his brother Rob at the Powershift 2009 conference in Washington.
I’ve spent nearly two decades trying to be as effective as possible in stopping the climate crisis, and a few years ago I had to confront the fact that reducing emissions was necessary, but insufficient, to prevent the worst impacts of global warming. So I started looking for other ways to meet this challenge. For a long time, I’ve been hungry for an inspiring vision of the future that people can get excited about, and human civilization expanding into the solar system fits that vision really well. By combining these two ideas, I know I’m working on the right thing.
How do you approach the challenge of translating a concept often found in science fiction into a scientifically and politically feasible initiative?
I think it depends on where people are starting from. If you’re really focused on protecting our biosphere, then the idea of stopping global warming and moving industry into space is really appealing. If you’re focused on space, then you’re looking for something that can catalyze investment and innovation. If you’re focused on geopolitics, then the project of the world’s nation’s working together on an ambitious project serves as a useful organizing principle.
But most people are really curious and want to learn, and I love teaching.
You’ve spent years building grassroots initiatives—what’s the best piece of advice you’ve heard for how an idea takes hold?
I’ve always thought of this work as ‘the snowball method’. Imagine you’re rolling a snowball such that it gets bigger because it’s picking up wet snow as it moves. When you’re ready, you push it down a hill so it starts rolling on its own. If it rolls too fast it flies apart, but if it rolls too slowly it quickly stops. Our job as leaders is to find the right conditions, push with the right force, and keep growing steadily.
Morgan (left) Leading chants on the steps of the New Hampshire capitol building after a 5-day march across the state in 2007 for global warming solutions.
Photo Credit @ Christine Irvine
Tell me more about your professional journey leading up to the Sunshade
Morgan addressing the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter’s Political Leadership Awards in 2024
Over the past two decades, I've worked at the intersection of grassroots activism, climate advocacy, and public service. My journey began organizing youth-led climate actions, including the March to Re-energize New Hampshire and campus mobilizations at Williams College that helped pass the state’s first carbon-reduction law. I spent 10 years at Avaaz, where I led global campaigns from the aftermath of Copenhagen to the Paris Agreement, including coordinating the 2014 global climate marches. I also served as Mayor of Truckee, CA, during a five-year term on the city council, and most recently, directed the Sierra Club’s Los Angeles chapter, leading local fights against urban oil drilling and environmental injustice.
How do you see your role with the Sunshade evolving in the coming months and year?
The global discussion around solar geoengineering is a tiny but growing field, and I expect interest to continue increasing. I intend to be a contributor to that wider field, representing the benefits and challenges of the sunshade concept fairly, and growing as a trusted representative of this effort.
How do you view the Foundation's role in the larger space economy?
Quite simply, global investment in the sunshade could be the catalyst for a space economy. All the dreams of massive space telescopes, space stations, asteroid mining, and new technologies require some level of in space infrastructure which doesn’t currently exist, and it’s not clear to me how we get there without a big focused effort that’s critical for earth. Halting global warming certainly fits that criteria.
As a Foundation, we can enroll members of the space community in the vision of contributing to global warming solutions through our story-telling, research and ambassadors.
What habits or frameworks have helped you zoom out and maintain conviction in your causes even when short-term pressures mount?
Long days in the mountains, either on foot, bike or skis, is my reset. This is where I do my best thinking, but more importantly it’s where I remember what we’re fighting for, how much is at stake, and how grateful I am to have the time I have.
Lightning Round
Mars or Moon?
Moon for sure.
Dune or Star wars?
The Andor show really got me back into Star Wars. I’d just rather spend time with heroes over anti-heroes.
More likely: net zero or asteroid mining?
I believe we can hit net zero. I believe renewable energy tech will get there, and carbon removal will get there. But I’m not sure we can do it without asteroid mining. I think space resources are part of just about all the desirable futures I can imagine.
Books on your nightstand?
Imagining Climate Engineering by Jeroen Ooomen, a Dutch thinking who’s very critical of the geoengineering conversation. I find conflicting viewpoints to be essential in this work. And I just finished Murakami’s Windup Bird Chronicle - stunning.
Favorite Space Movie
The Martian was really cool. I hope someone makes Artemis into a movie!
Space technology you want to mature immediately (not including the sunshade)
Space based solar power is very exciting! Or even the ability to beam solar power up from earth and use a satellite backbone to send it to night-time cities would be amazing.
Favorite space related podcast or YouTube channel
Scott Manley’s Deep Space Updates is a must - he keeps it real.
Interview by Tim Dougherty. Tim is an ambassador for the Planetary Sunshade Foundation. He is the author of Timelapse (Ten Speed Press, 2020) and is currently developing a new book exploring the next era of space infrastructure. He runs Lagrange Points, a media project focused on defining the geography of space and humanity’s future beyond Earth.