The United Nations General Assembly endorsed a resolution on Friday to promote the use of the Equal Earth map projection, which more accurately represents Africa’s size relative to other continents. The resolution, sponsored by Togo and supported by the African Union, was passed with 164 member states voting in favor, while the United States voted against it and six countries abstained. The vote encourages governments and institutions worldwide to replace the traditional Mercator map, which has been in use since the 16th century, with the Equal Earth projection, which geographers assert displays locations more accurately.

The Mercator projection distorts the relative sizes of landmasses, depicting Greenland and Africa as approximately the same size, whereas the Equal Earth projection correctly shows Africa as 14 times larger than Greenland. The UN emphasized that the resolution does not ban the Mercator projection but merely encourages the adoption of the Equal Earth map. Togo’s Foreign Minister, Robert Dussey, highlighted the significance of maps in shaping understanding, education, and collective perceptions. Advocacy groups, such as Africa No Filter, welcomed the resolution and called for the widespread use of accurate maps in various domains, including schools, media, and digital platforms. Several countries, including France, supported the adoption, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stating that correcting distorted representations is an act of truth. Geographers argue that the Mercator map, designed for navigation, serves little purpose beyond that specific application. Source

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