When health and well-being have been defined broadly, it becomes easier to understand what the health impacts of energy scarcity and climate change are likely to be. Many things that are not considered to be “health related” per she are nevertheless important determinants of health; all of the factors below contribute to physical, mental, and social well-being—or lack thereof—and each of these is likely to be influenced by the coming energy and climate challenges:
• Community economic vitality
• Employment rate
• Social stability
• Neighborliness
• Dependability and affordability of basic needs like food and water
• Urban planning and design
• Reliable transportation systems
• Discrimination
• Political/military conflict
• Population dislocation/mass migration
• Confidence/worry about the future
• Equity/inequity
• Freedom of/restrictions on movement
• Disaster preparedness (how communities respond to droughts, floods, and heat waves)
• Availability of public health and health care services