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This paper delves into the limitations of trusted grey literature in tackling climate change by scrutinizing available information through case studies on recycling, biomass, and ESG investments, and revealing challenges consumers face relative to the messages they receive about climate change. The recycling scenario reveals the illusion of plastic recycling, with a mere 5% effectively recycled in the U.S., prompting a reevaluation of consumer choices. Examining aviation's pursuit of sustainable fuels, the biomass scenario exposes hurdles in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The ESG investment scenario probes the impact of anti-ESG political rhetoric, highlighting the clash between environmental responsibility and opposing ideologies. The author emphasizes the messages consumers receive about their pivotal role in greenhouse gas emissions reduction, citing the significant sway of Scope 3 emissions. The author also stresses the necessity for a new consumer-centric narrative adapting to current climate realities, and advocates for a message that encourages investment in innovative, scalable solutions, aligning with the International Monetary Fund's priorities for achieving net-zero by 2050 through global cooperation, incentivizing clean technologies, and supporting vulnerable nations. The paper issues a call to action for a more impactful and inclusive approach to address climate change, transcending traditional literature and academic discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The far-reaching effects of climate change are among the leading global concerns today. The impacts of changing climate manifest in rising global temperatures (on land and in the ocean), escalating destructive extreme weather events, increasing biodiversity loss, shifting biomes, growing food insecurity, greater health risks (physical and mental), and involuntary migration of people, among other interconnected factors. The complexity of these problems individually and collectively is receiving extensive consideration in research and public arenas. Concerns about the influences of climate change have been increasing since the 1950s and through the last half of the twentieth century scientific understanding reached a consensus of the causes and numerous negative outcomes. The impacts have become clear in the first decades of the twenty-first century. Researchers in many disciplines are cautioning that the world is rapidly reaching a tipping point in the overall health of the planet, after which recovery will be very difficult. In addition, decision makers are grappling with how to evaluate multiple and sometimes competing calls for action and to decide how to address the issues best. In both research and decision-making settings, grey literature has been a prominent information genre about the multifaceted aspects of climate. Large quantities of grey literature on climate and climate change subjects have been produced. Academic institutions, governmental and intergovernmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, professional associations, think tanks, and news media have turned out grey literature ranging from brochures to hefty technical reports. These materials have been generated in print and digital formats to fulfil a suite of roles: 1) to report research findings, 2) to compile and synthesize literature on research and professional practice, 3) to inform policymakers and the public, 4) to advocate for policy development, 5) to implement policy, 6) to promote change in professional and individual practice, 7) to educate; 8) to broker information and promote networking, and 9) to counter misinformation. In this paper we draw on research about decision making in public policy and management practice about coastal and marine environments to illustrate how grey literature on climate subjects has been deployed in delivering on these roles. Grey literature is widely used in many decision-making contexts. Recognizing its numerous roles can inform citizens, managers, planners, and policy- and decision-makers in addressing the climate challenges facing society today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]