從災害到行動：如何改變敘事共同迎接氣候挑戰

2024 年的 10 月佛羅里達州居民再次面臨極端天氣的嚴峻挑戰。僅僅兩週前，颶風海倫（Hurricane Helene）重創佛州，造成廣泛的財產損失和基礎設施破壞。而此時，颶風米爾頓（Hurricane Milton）因墨西哥灣前所未有的高溫迅速增強為強烈風暴，再次向該州發起猛烈襲擊，進一步考驗著居民的應變能力與心理承受力。

Florida residents once again face serious challenges from extreme weather in October 2024. Just two weeks ago, Hurricane Helene devastated Florida, causing widespread property damage and infrastructure damage. At this time, Hurricane Milton quickly intensified into a severe storm due to the unprecedented high temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, and once again launched a violent attack on the state, further testing the residents' resilience and psychological endurance.

當颶風米爾頓逼近海岸，氣象預報畫面持續播放颶風路徑與可能的影響。剛剛經歷過海倫破壞的居民無不懷著忐忑的心情密切關注。然而，隨著風暴加速增強，官方緊急發布撤離通知，大量居民倉促離開家園，導致主要交通幹道嚴重擁堵。對於選擇留下的居民，地方官員不得不給出令人不安的建議：用防水筆在手臂上寫下姓名，以便在最壞情況下辨識身份。

As Hurricane Milton approaches the coast, weather forecast screens continue to show the hurricane's path and possible impacts. The residents who had just experienced Helen's destruction were all paying close attention with trepidation. However, as the storm accelerated and intensified, officials issued emergency evacuation notices, and a large number of residents hurriedly left their homes, causing serious congestion on major traffic arteries. For residents who choose to stay, local officials have had to offer disturbing advice: write names on their arms with waterproof pens to identify them in the worst-case scenario.

連續災害敲響氣候危機警鐘

颶風海倫和米爾頓不僅是近期最具破壞力的風暴，也成為全球氣候危機的警示案例。科學家早已警告，由人類活動驅動的氣候變遷將導致愈發頻繁和極端的天氣事件。墨西哥灣持續升高的海水溫度為颶風增強提供了強大能量，成為這些毀滅性風暴的「燃料」。

但即使氣候危機的威脅日益顯現，仍有不少人對此持否認態度。一些人認為氣候變遷是自然現象，另一些人則基於政治或經濟立場拒絕承認氣候問題的嚴重性。面對如此明顯的威脅，為何仍有許多人選擇忽視或否認？

Continuous disasters sound alarm on climate crisis

Hurricanes Helen and Milton are not only the most destructive storms in recent times, they also serve as cautionary tales of the global climate crisis. Scientists have long warned that climate change driven by human activities will lead to more frequent and extreme weather events. Rising sea temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico provide powerful energy for hurricanes to intensify, becoming the "fuel" for these devastating storms.

But even as the threat of the climate crisis becomes increasingly apparent, many people remain in denial. Some people believe that climate change is a natural phenomenon, while others refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of the climate problem based on political or economic grounds. Faced with such an obvious threat, why do so many still choose to ignore or deny it?

氣候否認的心理根源：恐懼管理理論解讀

根據社會心理學的研究，否認氣候危機可能與人類對死亡和生存威脅的本能性心理反應有關。恐懼管理理論（Terror Management Theory）指出，人類在面對死亡威脅時，會本能地尋求心理上的逃避，並轉而依附於某些文化價值觀和意識形態，藉此為生活賦予意義並舒緩對死亡的恐懼。

颶風等自然災害不僅帶來物理上的威脅，還深刻地喚起人們對生存危機的認知。在此情境下，一些人可能會更加堅守與氣候關注相衝突的價值觀，甚至加深對氣候問題的否認。研究表明，這種心理機制類似於人們在面對其他健康威脅（如癌症篩查）時選擇逃避的行為。

例如，在颶風海倫和米爾頓期間，Google 的搜尋趨勢顯示，「氣候變遷」和「全球暖化」的相關搜尋量在颶風登陸前迅速攀升，但隨著風暴結束，搜尋熱度也迅速下降，顯示人們在危機過後迅速將注意力轉移到其他事務上。

The psychological roots of climate denial: An interpretation of fear management theory

According to research in social psychology, denial of the climate crisis may be linked to humans’ instinctive psychological responses to death and existential threats. Terror Management Theory points out that when human beings face the threat of death, they will instinctively seek psychological escape and turn to certain cultural values ​​and ideologies to give meaning to life and relieve the fear of death.

Natural disasters such as hurricanes not only pose physical threats, but also profoundly arouse people's awareness of existential crises. In this context, some people may become more committed to values ​​that conflict with climate concerns, or even deepen their denial of climate issues. Research suggests that this psychological mechanism is similar to the behavior people use to avoid other health threats, such as cancer screenings.

For example, during hurricanes Helen and Milton, Google's search trends showed that searches related to "climate change" and "global warming" rose rapidly before the hurricanes made landfall, but as the storms ended, the search popularity also dropped rapidly, indicating that people quickly shifted their attention to other matters after the crisis.

改變敘事：從恐懼到行動

雖然否認是面對氣候危機的自然心理反應，但隨著極端天氣事件的頻率和強度不斷加劇，改變敘事已成為當務之急。專家指出，將氣候問題塑造成「不可避免的末日威脅」只會加深人們的無助感和逃避心理。

佛羅里達州氣象專家丹尼斯·菲利普斯（Denis Phillips）為應對這類問題提供了一個值得借鑒的範例。在颶風米爾頓期間，他以事實為基礎的更新吸引了廣泛關注。他通過非黨派的方式鼓勵社區互助，並提醒居民保持冷靜、理性評估風險並採取行動。他的「第七條準則」——「不要恐慌」——成為了一種鼓舞人心的行動口號，幫助居民在壓力下做出正確的決策。

Changing the narrative: from fear to action

While denial is a natural psychological response to the climate crisis, as extreme weather events continue to increase in frequency and intensity, changing the narrative has become imperative. Experts point out that framing the climate issue as an "inevitable doomsday threat" will only deepen people's sense of helplessness and avoidance.

Florida meteorologist Denis Phillips provides a worthy example of how to deal with this type of problem. During Hurricane Milton, his fact-based updates attracted widespread attention. He encouraged the community to help each other in a non-partisan manner and reminded residents to stay calm, assess risks rationally and take action. His “seventh rule”, “Don’t panic”, became an inspiring mantra for action, helping residents make the right decisions under pressure.

專家建議，應將氣候行動塑造成一場人類可以共同克服的挑戰，而非注定失敗的末日之戰。這種敘事轉變能幫助人們直面氣候危機，減少由存在性焦慮引發的否認行為，同時為安全且可持續的未來描繪出清晰的願景。

共同應對氣候危機的未來

Experts suggest that climate action should be framed as a challenge that humans can overcome together, rather than a doomsday battle that is doomed to fail. This narrative shift can help people confront the climate crisis, reduce the denial fueled by existential anxiety, and create a clear vision for a safe and sustainable future.

Working together to tackle the future of climate crisis

在極端氣候事件頻繁發生的時代，科學家、政策制定者和公眾之間的合作比以往任何時候都更為重要。從減少碳排放到提升社區應對能力，每一項努力都需要有力的行動和支持。

In an era of frequent extreme climate events, collaboration between scientists, policymakers and the public is more important than ever. From reducing carbon emissions to building community resilience, every effort requires strong action and support.

佛州的兩場颶風提醒我們，氣候變遷的威脅不僅是一場環境挑戰，也是對我們心理韌性和社會凝聚力的考驗。通過推動基於科學的解決方案和合作，我們可以共同面對這一危機，並為後代建設一個更安全、更可持續的世界。

Two hurricanes in Florida remind us that the threat of climate change is not only an environmental challenge, but also a test of our psychological resilience and social cohesion. By promoting science-based solutions and collaboration, we can face this crisis together and build a safer, more sustainable world for future generations.