The United Nations made a decision to move away from the traditional Mercator global map towards a more accurate representation of countries’ actual sizes. This move was initiated by Togo and supported by other African nations to address the misconception that Africa is less significant. The Mercator map distorts the sizes of land masses by enlarging those closer to the poles, making Greenland seem comparable in size to Africa, even though Africa is significantly larger.
Togo’s Foreign Minister, Robert Dussey, emphasized the importance of using a fair map for a fair world. The resolution backs the Equal Earth projection, which provides a more precise depiction of continent sizes. While the resolution is not binding, it does not challenge the continued use of the Mercator projection for aerial and maritime navigation.
The UN General Assembly approved the resolution with a vote of 164 in favor, one against (the United States), and six abstentions. The U.S. deemed the resolution as advancing an ideological agenda and diverting attention from genuine international issues.
Togo plans to update its school geography materials by the end of the year, becoming the first country to do so. Dussey expressed the intention to encourage other nations, schools, international bodies, and technology firms to transition from the outdated Mercator projection to the Equal Earth projection, which offers a more accurate representation of the world.
Dussey emphasized that the campaign to adopt the new map aligns with broader African efforts to address colonial legacies and is not meant to target any specific civilization. He highlighted that the shift from the Mercator map symbolizes a changing world, including Africa’s evolving role.
