The Industrial Revolution created many positive impacts for the environment with one of many

being efficiency improvement. This came with sustainable improvements to already existing
inventions and regulations set in place. Prior machinery was less energy efficient and society as
a whole was less aware, but post and present Industrial Revolution people worked towards
positive impacts on the environment. According to an article published by Britannica written by
Peter W. Kingsford updated on the 23rd of february 2024 ‘Watt's steam engine design
incorporated two of his own inventions: the separate condenser (1765) and the parallel motion
(1784). The addition of these devices, among others, made Watt's steam engine more efficient
than other steam engines.’.This sheds light on a positive impact the Industrial Revolution had on
the environment since the original steam engine invented by Thomas Newcomen was made to
be more efficient with new inventions invented by James Watt to make it more energy efficient,
in turn helping the environment. In addition to this, an article written by Frankie Wallace
published by 18th Century History ‘England, India, and the American colonies all saw some
form of environmental activism in the 18th century, prompting several city governments to
implement policies designed to reduce pollution. Notable figures such as Benjamin Franklin and
Jonathan Swift were among the citizens fighting for environmental protection.’.This further
demonstrates the positive impact brought on by the Industrial Revolution on the environment as
it caused awareness about protecting the environment, with countries and notable individuals
such as Benjamin Franklin and Jonothan Swift advocating for improvements. Although there are
many positive environmental impacts that were pushed forward by the Industrial Revolution,
there were just as many- if not more negative impacts including pollution. Pollution is an
environmental issue that is associated with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, and took
various forms like air pollution and global warming. These issues are directly linked to the
Industrial Revolution since new factories and machinery produce pollutants such as particle
matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide. According to a study
published in 2016 by Nature, climate change driven by human activity began as early as the
1830s. This source displays a direct link between the Industrial Revolution and its early negative
impacts. According to an article written by Helen McGregor published by The Conversation on
August 25th 2016, ‘The tropical oceans and the Arctic were the first regions to begin warming, in
the 1830s. Europe, North America and Asia followed roughly two decades later.’.This also
seemingly correlates with the industrial revolution as global warming began around the 19th
century, when factories became more widespread, thus displaying its negative effects. These
are just a fraction of the positive and negative environmental impacts of the Industrial
Revolution, which were pollution and efficiency improvement.