Why do some scientists connect James Watt’s 1784 parallel motion with the proposed Anthropocene Epoch?

Some scientists propose that the year 1784—the year James Watt invented the parallel motion for his double-acting engine—should serve as the starting point for the Anthropocene Epoch.12

This connection is made because the parallel motion was a critical component of Watt’s improved steam engine, which became a defining technology of the Industrial Revolution. By enabling more efficient and versatile industrial production and transportation, Watt’s innovations fueled a rapid increase in the use of fossil fuels such as coal.1324

Proponents of this start date argue that this period marks the beginning of the time when human activities began to substantially and permanently alter Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and surface systems, which is the core characteristic of the proposed Anthropocene Epoch.512