The accumulation of trash in our oceans has become a global crisis. How long does it take for trash to break down in the environment? This infographic contains decomposition rates for different types of waste in the ocean environment. This video sets out decomposition estimates for a variety of products that wind up in landfills.

“Crossing the Rubicon” is part of deCaires Taylor’s Museo Atlántico, an underwater sculpture park located in the Canary Islands. In the work, deCaires Taylor depicts a procession of ordinary people walking toward an ominous threshold. The installation is a powerful metaphor for the perilous course that humanity has chosen, as we continue to stress ocean habitats and actuate climate change. According to deCaires Taylor, “the wall is intended to be a monument to absurdity, a dysfunctional barrier in the middle of a vast fluid, three-dimensional space, which can be bypassed in any direction…It emphasizes that the notions of ownership and territories are irrelevant to the natural world. In times of increasing patriotism and protectionism, the wall aims to remind us that we cannot segregate our oceans, air, climate or wildlife as we do our land and possessions.”

Zoom into the image to see additional views of this powerful work, and watch this video to see footage of the installation process.

In this video, experience the installation under a variety of lighting conditions, and witness how the sculptures have been transformed by marine life and time.

In “Deregulated,” deCaires Taylor draws our attention to the role of corporations and governments in environmental stewardship. As the public has demanded more robust environmental protection efforts, some corporations have embraced those efforts while others have devoted substantial resources to derailing them. According to InfluenceMap, the environmental impact of a corporation’s lobbying and other efforts to influence policy can often exceed the environmental impact of their operations. Learn more in InfluenceMap’s reports on corporate influence.

Corporate influence can permeate decision-making at the highest levels of government. In this report by Greenpeace, read about the unseemly efforts of the Australian government to prioritize new coal projects over the preservation of the Great Barrier Reef.

Zoom into the image to see additional elements of the installation.

In the making of this work, Jason deCaires Taylor created hundreds of concrete casts from members of the local Mexican community. The participation of members of the community highlights the importance of the oceans as a source of sustenance and economic welfare for people all over the world. Throughout his work, deCaires Taylor draws attention to the ongoing threats to ocean health. Learn more about the environmental issues addressed in his work and the positive impact of his installations in this informative statement and inspiring TED talk.

See additional views and dynamic footage of the installation by zooming into the image and watching this video.

Many of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, such as plastic pollution in our oceans, are rooted in our consumption attitudes and choices. Once we understand the impact of those attitudes and choices, however, we have the power as consumers to alter them. Will we continue to consume plastics, knowing that a certain percentage of manufactured plastic inevitably winds up in the oceans and the marine food chain? Or will we use our power as consumers to demand plastic-free shopping alternatives.

Can science and technology alleviate some of the devastation to ocean habitats caused by human consumption?

One of the factors leading to the accumulation of trash in the ocean is that plastic is not biodegradable. In this video, CNN discusses the recent discovery and enhancement of an enzyme that breaks down certain common types of plastic. The industrial production of this enzyme could transform the recycling process for certain plastics and curtail the flow of plastic waste into the oceans.

Scientists believe that high ocean temperatures and acidity attributable to climate change are leading to the “bleaching” and death of coral reefs in areas such as the Great Barrier Reef. In this video, learn about the efforts of scientists to identify and breed coral specimens that are resistant to warmer and more acidic ocean conditions. Such efforts may offer hope for rebuilding dying reefs as climate change continues to ravage these sensitive ocean habitats.

Zoom into the image to see additional installation views and design details. Watch this Discovery Channel video to learn more about the fabrication and installation of “Anthropocene” and other deCaires Taylor sculptures in the Museo Subacuático de Arte in Mexico.

In “Vicissitudes,” deCaires Taylor depicts a ring of children to convey the importance of nurturing a sustainable space for them to grow. Are we doing enough to protect nature’s greatest treasures, such as the Great Barrier Reef, for future generations? Zoom into the image to see additional views of the work, and watch this video to see beautiful footage of “Vicissitudes” and other deCaires Taylor works from his underwater sculpture park in Grenada.

Jason deCaires Taylor activates the ocean depths with ever-changing sculptures that support marine life and remind us of the urgent need for ocean conservation and environmental stewardship.  If you are inspired by his work, you can take action in your own life.  Select one or more pledges listed below and spread the word.  You can also learn more by visiting our Pledge Center.  Let’s #EndOvershoot!