It’s not enough to craft strategies that benefit the environment and the economy, according to Bill Ritter, Jr., director at the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University. The former governor of Colorado says there has to be an equity component, as well.

WorkingNation sat down with Ritter at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego.

Ritter – who founded CNEE in 2011 – says it’s key that all stakeholders are engaged. “It’s really important in the United States, not just to work with policy leaders, but to also think just on a day-to-day basis, how people who are the citizens of the United States can be involved in this and why they should be involved.”

“We’ve been able to manage that conversation by not talking about climate with people who don’t believe there’s climate change but talking about their own ability to enter that workforce and be part of it. It can create jobs. It can create wealth in communities. It’s going to be a whole different workforce in 2035 than it is today.”

Learn more about the Center for the New Energy Economy.