With the impacts of the climate crisis encroaching on more Canadians each year, it’s no surprise our anxiety is the rise.

As the planet gets hotter, wildfires rage, and flooding alters the landscape, we investigate the ways in which people are coping and reenergizing their spirits by creating communities to deal with our new reality.

As Farah Nasser reports for The New Reality, eco-grief is a new term to describe a serious global issue – not about what to do about climate change, but rather about what it is doing to us.

Our overconsumption of fast fashion and its complicated supply chain continue to have massive environmental impacts. Now, shoppers are demanding more sustainable clothing options. Brands and retailers are responding with new items and promoting their green and eco-friendly lines.

But how can consumers tell if this is real change that will help the planet? Or are retailers greenwashing their way into Canadian closets?

Kayla McLean reports for The New Reality.

Colour is all around us. It evokes memories, stirs emotions, and fires the imagination.

But what if one day, the dazzling array of shades we see that inspire great works of art were no longer free?

There’s an increasing push in law and big business to put a price on pigment.

But, as Redmond Shannon discovered for The New Reality, one British artist is on a crusade to free colour for fellow creators – and everyone else.

A sport that has been around for decades has been given a new lease on life – partially fueled by the pandemic.

Pickleball is considered the fastest growing sport in North America, and it’s no longer just retirees playing it. But pickleball is not without controversy.

As Candace Daniel found out for The New Reality, the lack of space and concerns over noise is causing tension in communities big and small.

Something unprecedented is happening: used cars are actually appreciating in value.

In fact, the average price of a used car has shot up 48% in the last year. This is forcing huge changes in the industry, leading decades-old dealerships to start offering online sales and home delivery.

They’re hoping to ward off disruptors like Clutch, a Canadian online used car marketplace, which is going after younger customers who want the convenience of ordering a car like they would a pizza.

For The New Reality, Mike Drolet explores the wild ride of used cars sales – and how long this trend is likely to continue.

With gas prices remaining high and Canadians looking to cut their emissions, electric vehicles are becoming the preferred choice for many. Sales of EVs skyrocketed last year, increasing by 75 per cent worldwide.

But innovation brings with it new questions— like what happens to the car’s massive battery pack when it dies?

For The New Reality, Krista Hessey goes inside a Canadian company on a mission to solve this future waste problem and help deal with a looming critical minerals crisis.

There's one community in Ukraine that is unable to defend itself against relentless Russian attacks.

The small city of Marhanets sits in the shadow of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – currently controlled by Russians, who are using it as a base from which to launch attacks on nearby communities like Marhanets, knowing that if Ukrainians pushed back – it could be suicidal.

So, they’ve asked for help, and as Jeff Semple reports, a Canadian veteran is answering the call.

Noise is a daily reality for urban dwellers in Canada. Traffic, honking horns, and the incessant sound of construction are everywhere.

But what impact is all that noise having on us?

Last month, the United Nations released a report claiming that the physical and mental health impacts from urban noise, make it one of the top emerging environmental threats.

For The New Reality, Kayla McLean explores ways that some cities have changed to make streets less car-centric and how residents there are benefitting.

You may not realize we are now in tornado season. But Canada experiences these destructive weather systems more than almost any other country.

We don't always see or hear about them because they often strike remote or unpopulated areas.

But when they hit residential neighbourhoods, the damage can be catastrophic.

High-tech teams are tracking these twisters across the country, determining how to better protect people and their homes.

As Candace Daniel reports for The New Reality, there could be a simple and affordable solution that’s been around for years.

The twin crises of the pandemic and housing affordability are creating a seismic shift across the country.

As millennials look to put down roots and start families, they’re saying goodbye to Canada’s big cities and settling in small towns.

But as Krista Hessey found out for The New Reality, big change brings new challenges, including tensions over whether newcomers will contribute to the local economy and a ripple effect of spiking home prices.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how and where we work. So after more than a year behind Plexiglass and Zoom screens, what does the workplace of the future look like?

For The New Reality, Jeff Semple got an inside look at how companies are innovating -- from augmented reality to co-working spaces -- so their staff can work effectively and safely.

The pandemic was only just taking hold when two chefs noticed the need for meals and food was increasingly – quickly.

So they did what any chef would do – they started cooking.

As Mike Drolet reports on The New Reality, they used their contacts with food suppliers, colleges and hotels to divert over a million dollars’ worth of food away from landfill and to shelters and food banks instead.