The United Nations made a significant decision on Friday to move away from the outdated Mercator global map, a move mainly pushed by African nations to address the misrepresentation of countries’ actual sizes. Togo spearheaded the effort to support the African Union’s initiative to reduce the use of the Mercator map, known for distorting the proportions of land masses by exaggerating those closer to the poles. This distortion leads to misleading visualizations, such as making Greenland seem almost as large as Africa, when in reality, Africa is approximately 14 times larger.
In a statement before the vote, Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey emphasized the importance of having a fair and accurate map to create a fair world. The resolution endorsed the Equal Earth projection as a more precise representation of continent sizes. It is essential to note that this resolution does not impose any legal obligations and does not challenge the Mercator projection’s suitability for maritime and aerial navigation.
The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed the resolution with 164 votes in favor, one against (from the United States), and six abstentions. The U.S. criticized the resolution, deeming it as advancing a specific agenda and diverting attention from more critical global issues.
Togo plans to lead by example by updating 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encourage other nations, educational institutions, international bodies, and tech companies to transition away from the outdated Mercator projection to the Equal Earth projection, which offers a more accurate depiction of the world.
Dussey aims to gather African Union members and supporters from various regions in the coming months to strategize on broader adoption plans. He emphasized the need to involve mapping, GPS, and location-based technology companies in these discussions. Dussey underscored that this initiative aligns with broader African efforts to address colonial-era impacts without targeting any specific civilization. He concluded by highlighting the evolving nature of the world and Africa’s role in that transformation.