The United Nations made a significant decision on Friday to transition from the outdated Mercator global map, used since the 16th century, to a more accurate representation of countries’ true sizes. This move was initiated by African states to combat the misconception that Africa is on the periphery. Togo spearheaded this effort to support the African Union’s campaign against the Mercator map, known for distorting the sizes of land masses by enlarging those closer to the poles. For instance, it falsely depicts Greenland as comparable in size to Africa, despite Africa being approximately 14 times larger.
“It all starts with a just map,” stated Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey to Reuters before the vote took place. The resolution advocates for the adoption of the Equal Earth projection, which provides a more precise depiction of continents’ sizes. It is important to note that this resolution is not legally binding and does not challenge the use of the Mercator projection for maritime and aerial navigation, where it remains suitable.
The resolution was overwhelmingly passed in the UN General Assembly with 164 countries voting in favor and only one country, the United States, voting against it. The US criticized the resolution, labeling it as promoting an “ideological agenda” and diverting attention from genuine international peace, prosperity, and diplomatic issues.
Togo is aiming to update its school geography materials by the end of the year, becoming the first country to make this change. Dussey expressed Togo’s intention to encourage other nations, educational institutions, international bodies, and tech companies to move away from the outdated Mercator projection in favor of the Equal Earth projection, which offers a more accurate representation of the world.
In the coming months, Togo plans to collaborate with African Union members and supporters from various regions to promote wider adoption of the Equal Earth projection. Dussey emphasized the importance of involving companies specializing in mapping, GPS, and location-based technologies in these discussions. He linked the map transition campaign with broader African initiatives to address colonial-era legacies, clarifying that it is not an attack on any specific civilization but rather a step towards acknowledging and rectifying historical inaccuracies.
Dussey concluded by highlighting that the world and Africa are evolving, signaling a need for updated and fair representations on maps.