The United Nations General Assembly voted on a Friday to back a resolution spearheaded by several African countries to adopt the Equal Earth cartographic projection. Designated as resolution A/80/L.104 and titled Correct the Map: Rebalancing global cartographic representation and promoting equitable representation of the world’s regions, particularly Africa, the measure was supported by 164 countries. The United States voted against the proposal, becoming the sole opposing state, while six other nations abstained.
United Nations General Assembly Adopts African-Led Map Resolution
The initiative was led by Togo on behalf of the African Group and received earlier backing from the African Union. The resolution describes the Equal Earth map as a relevant option for improving cartographic accuracy and urges member states to adopt it in place of the traditional Mercator projection.
Addressing Centuries of Cartographic Distortion
The traditional Mercator projection was designed in 1569 by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator primarily for maritime navigation. While the projection accurately preserves directions, shapes, and angles, its rendering of a three-dimensional globe onto a two-dimensional surface creates severe size distortions. Northern regions are inflated while equatorial ones are compressed, causing Europe and North America to appear much larger while shrinking Africa and South America.
According to the African Union, Africa is roughly 14 times larger than Greenland, yet the two land masses appear almost comparable in size on a conventional Mercator map. A group of cartographers launched the Equal Earth projection in 2018 to preserve the relative surface areas of continents and show their shapes as they appear on a globe. Alongside Africa, the alternative projection makes Latin America, South Asia, and Oceania appear much larger.
Global Reactions and Diplomatic Divisions
Proponents of the resolution argued that map proportions influence global perceptions, education, and collective memory. Togo’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Robert Dussey, stated that maps guide education and nourish the imagination, noting that distorted images risk perpetuating inaccurate representations passed down through generations. France co-sponsored the resolution and announced it would abandon the Mercator projection, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot describing the correction as an act of truth.
Conversely, the United States criticized the resolution ahead of the vote. US representative Yaryna Ferencevych stated that the institution was losing its credibility by debating 16th-century map projects and their role in promoting reparations and cognitive justice instead of focusing on genuine problems.
Implementation Plans and Future Scope
The resolution is not legally binding and does not prohibit the use of the Mercator projection where it remains useful for maritime and aerial navigation. Instead, it encourages governments, schools, international organizations, and technology companies to adopt equal-area alternatives.
Togo plans to update its own school geography materials by the end of 2026 to serve as an example for other nations. The African Union announced that future phases will involve engaging member states, educators, geospatial experts, media practitioners, civil society, technology companies, and international publishers to encourage wider adoption of mapping standards that reflect Africa’s true geographical scale.
