Industrial Revolutions and Sustainable Development Goals in Linda Winchell’s ‘The Industrial Revolutions’

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals adopted by United Nations 
(UN) member states in 2015. They provide a framework to address various social, economic, and 
environmental challenges and aim to achieve a more sustainable and equitable world by 2030. The 
SDGs build upon the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and encompass a wide range of 
interconnected issues. The Industrial Revolutions are marked by significant periods of rapid 
industrialization, technological advancements, and socioeconomic changes. While the Industrial 
Revolutions brought about unprecedented economic growth and improved living conditions, they also 
had adverse environmental and social impacts. The aim of this study is to examine the 
interconnectivity between the Industrial Revolutions and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 
while interrogating Linda Winchell’s poem ‘The Industrial Revolutions.’ The study employed content 
analysis to bring out the salient thoughts of the poets on how the industrial revolutions hinder the 
achievement of the SDGs and addressing the challenges that arose from industrialization. The study 
found that industrial revolution, rather than removing hunger, has increased it. Industrial revolutions 
have led to environmental degradation and pollution. The study therefore recommends that while 
attention is given to the positive aspects of industrial revolutions, their challenges should be prepared 
for and properly addressed.