ABSTRACT
Recent research shows that reading, especially but not exclusively of fiction, helps develop people’s empathy, a motivation and rationale for action to address contemporary problems and challenges of all kinds. For taking action, critical literacy is a key tool for which education is responsible. In every teaching and learning situation, whether in a formal classroom or not, online or off, all learners must receive instruction in critical literacy as the launch point to prepare for greater sustainability in urban environments and beyond. To live and thrive in sustainable cities, urban residents need in addition to empathy, resilience, and the tools of critical literacy. A resilient population can confront situations like the recent pandemic and formulate well-informed and appropriate responses to the key challenges every urban area faces, including social injustice and the climate change disaster. A well-read, empathic population can be ready to engage in problem solving, as they will be citizens who can comprehend and evaluate materials of all kinds for authority, accuracy, currency, relevancy, appropriateness and bias. Empathy, resilience and action using critical literacy tools will enable students and other learners to create and support the ecosystems of sustainable cities.
