The United Nations made a significant decision on Friday to move away from the outdated Mercator global map, which distorts the true size of countries, particularly affecting perceptions of Africa. The resolution, championed by Togo and supported by African states, aims to address the inaccuracies of the Mercator map, which exaggerates land masses closer to the poles. For instance, Africa is actually about 14 times larger than Greenland, but the Mercator projection makes them appear similar in size.
Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey emphasized the importance of a fair representation of the world, stating, “A fair world begins with a fair map.” The resolution advocates for the use of the Equal Earth projection, which provides a more accurate portrayal of continent sizes.
Although the resolution is not legally binding, it received overwhelming support in the UN General Assembly, with 164 countries voting in favor and only the United States voting against it. The U.S. criticized the resolution as promoting an “ideological agenda” and diverting attention from more pressing international issues.
Togo is taking proactive steps to implement the resolution by planning to update its school geography materials by the end of the year. Dussey announced that Togo would lead by example by being the first country to change its geography books, with the aim of inspiring other nations to follow suit.
Furthermore, Togo intends to encourage governments, schools, international organizations, and technology companies to transition away from the Mercator projection towards the Equal Earth model, which offers a more accurate representation of the world. Dussey highlighted the importance of broader adoption of the Equal Earth projection and emphasized the need for discussions with stakeholders in mapping, GPS, and location-based technologies.
In alignment with broader African efforts to address colonial legacies, Dussey clarified that the campaign for adopting a more accurate map is not an attack on any specific civilization but rather a step towards rectifying historical inaccuracies. He emphasized that Africa, like the rest of the world, is evolving, and the shift in mapping practices is a part of this ongoing transformation.