熱門時事分享：綠色通膨是什麼？減碳讓物價上漲？環保與荷包怎麼平衡｜20260915
目錄
2026 年 09 月 15 日｜HOT 用英文聊時事｜S1 EP44
歡迎收聽《HOT 用英文聊時事》，近年全球暖化問題越來越受到重視。第 26 屆聯合國氣候變遷大會後，全球超過 130 個國家陸續喊出 2050 年達成淨零排放的目標，而目標要真正實現不能只靠政府宣示，還得需要企業配合，花錢換設備、改用乾淨能源，甚至調整生產流程。只是這些多出來的支出不一定都由企業自己吸收，最後可能反映在電費、交通費，或我們每天購買的商品裡，這種現象稱為「綠色通膨」。當你站在貨架前，一邊是比較便宜的商品，一邊是價格高一點、但更環保的選擇，你會怎麼抉擇呢？今天就讓我們來聊聊，綠色通膨從哪裡來，又會如何影響我們的生活與消費習慣。
Welcome to “Hot English Topics.” Global warming has become a growing concern in recent years. After COP26, more than 130 countries set goals to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. But meeting those goals will take more than just government promises—it will also require corporate buy-in. Businesses will need to invest in new equipment, switch to cleaner energy, and even adjust their production lines. The catch is, businesses won’t necessarily absorb all these extra costs themselves. They may eventually show up in electricity bills, transportation costs, or everyday products. This phenomenon is known as “greenflation.” Next time you’re standing in front of a store shelf, choosing between a cheaper product and a greener, more expensive one, what would you pick? Today, we’ll look at where greenflation comes from and how it will affect our daily lives and spending habits.
企業要真正做到減碳，既要花錢更新設備改變能源使用方式，又要承擔關鍵原物料變貴的成本。另外，除了要定期檢驗、記錄碳排，也得投入更多人力管理生產流程，確保每個環節符合規定。同時，工廠還要汰換高耗電量、高汙染的老舊機器，改裝太陽能、風力發電等再生能源設施，希望降低對傳統能源的依賴。能源轉型不可能一步到位，這些技術前期建置仍要花不少錢，而且供電量也不一定能完全取代傳統能源，因此轉型初期，企業通常需要同時負擔設備建置和原有能源的成本，整體支出會比以前更高。
For companies to cut emissions, they need to invest in new equipment and cleaner energy while also dealing with higher raw material costs. In addition to regularly monitoring and tracking emissions, they also need to put more staff into managing the production process to ensure that every step complies with regulations. At the same time, factories may also need to replace old, energy-intensive, and pollution-causing equipment and install renewable energy systems such as solar and wind power to reduce their reliance on traditional energy sources. But the transition takes time. These systems require major upfront investment, and renewables may not fully replace traditional energy at first. So companies often have to pay for both new systems and existing energy use at the same time, pushing overall costs even higher.
另外，企業還得面對原物料價格上漲。像電動車電池、太陽能板、風力發電機，這些綠色科技的核心零件要用到大量礦物。問題是這些礦物從開採到精煉都需要消耗大量能源，新礦場的開發也要經過評估、審查和建設，供應很難在短時間內跟上快速增加的需求，企業的製造成本提高，最後就轉由消費者買單。
Companies also face rising raw material costs. Green technologies like EV batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines rely on large amounts of minerals for their core components. Mining and refining these minerals use a lot of energy, and developing new mines takes time because they need to go through assessment, approval, and construction. Supply cannot always keep up with rapidly growing demand, driving up production costs, some of which are ultimately passed on to consumers.
前面提到的設備、能源和原物料，只是企業轉型支出的一部分，產業不同，成本增加的環節也不一樣，舉例來說：食品中的燕麥奶、有機蔬菜、非籠飼雞蛋或植物肉，價格通常比一般商品高，是因為生產者為了符合特定的種植或飼養標準，需要調整生產方式，投入人力追蹤來源，並接受相關檢驗與認證。衣服也是一樣，使用有機棉或回收物製成的布料，從原料追蹤、分類清洗到檢驗認證，都比一般商品多了幾道程序。此外，如果最近有搭飛機到歐洲，就會發現機票中涵蓋了環境附加費，因為航空公司為了符合減碳新政策，必須使用成本更高的永續航空燃料。從以上的這些例子可以看到，每天買的東西、搭飛機等日常開銷，我們花出去的每一筆錢，都可能悄悄藏著一筆沒注意到的額外成本。
The equipment, energy, and raw material costs that we’ve mentioned are only part of the picture. Different industries face rising costs in different ways. For example, oat milk, organic produce, cage-free eggs, and plant-based meat often cost more because producers must adjust their production methods, track where ingredients come from, and undergo inspections and certification to meet specific agricultural or animal welfare standards. Clothing made from organic cotton or recycled materials also requires extra steps, from tracing raw materials to sorting, cleaning, and certification. Travel can be affected too. If you have flown to Europe recently, you may have noticed an environmental surcharge, as airlines are required to use more expensive sustainable aviation fuel under new emissions rules. As these examples show, whether it’s the things we buy every day or the flights we take, each dollar we spend can come with extra costs we don’t always notice.
許多消費者都希望自己的選擇能對環境好一點，但真的要改變長期使用習慣，光有意願還不夠。隨著生活成本上升、手上的預算有限的情況下，價格高低往往還是最先納入考量的一大因素。除了價格，實際使用方不方便也會影響選擇。有些環保產品不是住家附近就買得到，還得前往特定商店尋找；重複使用的容器需要額外清洗、整理，而部分節能洗衣機為了減少用水和用電，而拉長了洗衣時間。
Many consumers want to make greener choices, but good intentions alone are not always enough to break old habits. With living costs rising and budgets tight, price is often still the first major consideration. Besides price, convenience also affects people’s choices. Some eco-friendly products aren’t available nearby and require a trip to a specific store, reusable containers need extra cleaning, and certain energy-efficient washing machines take longer to finish a cycle in order to conserve water and electricity. That extra time and effort can make these habits harder to keep.
對消費者來說，這些增加的時間和使用成本，可能降低長期使用的意願。另一個讓人猶豫的原因，是產品資訊說得夠不夠清楚。商品包裝上寫了天然、永續的字樣，但實際上用了什麼原料、做了哪些改變，缺少實質做法以及可信的第三方認證，消費者很難判斷是否真的對環境有益，也會擔心自己只是多花錢買了行銷話術。
Clear information is another concern. Products may be labeled “natural” or “sustainable,” but without knowing what materials are actually used, what changes have been made, or whether there is trusted third-party certification, it can be hard to know whether they are truly better for the environment. Consumers may worry they are simply paying more for marketing.
下次購物前，不妨先問問自己：這件商品真的需要嗎？能用多久？停一下，就比較不容易因為一時衝動，買下最後根本用不到的商品。確定有需要時，也不要只比較眼前的價格，還要看看耐不耐用、壞了能不能修，以及長期使用下來會不會更省錢，例如有節能標章的家電雖然價格可能高一點，但如果耗電量較低，幾年累積下來，長期電費反而比較省。至於那些一年只用幾次的物品，租借、共享或購買二手，可能比直接買新的更適合；物品壞了如果還能維修與保養，也能延長使用的壽命。
Before buying something, it may help to ask: Do I really need this? How long will I use it? Taking a moment can help avoid impulse buys that end up going unused. If you do need it, don’t just compare the upfront price either—consider how durable it is, whether it can be repaired, and whether it will save you money over time. An energy-efficient appliance, for example, may cost more upfront, but if it uses less electricity, you could end up saving more on energy bills in the long run. For things you only use a few times a year, renting, sharing, or buying secondhand may make more sense than buying new. Repairing something you already own can also help you get more use out of it.
同時，也要留意商品是否有環保標章、公平貿易等第三方認證，而不是只看到寫著「對地球友善」就相信，避免多花了錢，卻只買到包裝出來的好形象。環保商品不一定越貴越好，面對綠色通膨，購買之前回到自己的需求，用得到、用得久，也不會造成太大負擔，可能才是相對合適的選擇。
It’s also worth checking for trusted third-party certifications, such as eco-labels or Fairtrade, instead of relying on claims that a product is “good for the planet.” This can help you avoid paying more just for the appearance of being eco-friendly. With greenflation, the better choice isn’t always the most expensive or the greenest-looking one. What matters is whether it meets your needs, can be used for a long time, and doesn’t put too much strain on your budget.
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CLN (Corporate Language Network) 創辦於 2014 年，是亞洲企業外語服務和培訓的領導品牌，旨在解決企業因外語所衍伸的相關問題，協助客戶成為具有跨文化溝通和國際合作能力的專業人士。我們提供一流的企業教育訓練、AI 學習工具、隨選隨上家教平台、文件翻譯、會議口譯、師資訓練等專業服務。這些年來，我們的合作廠商包含 Google、Yahoo、IBM、IKEA、Mercedes-Benz、聯發科等多家國際品牌。
Since 2014, CLN (Corporate Language Network) has delivered language training and cross-cultural communication services for companies across Asia, including brands such as Google, IKEA, and MediaTek.
