United Nations votes 164-1 for Equal Earth map after US brands it 'radical ideological project'

The United Nations General Assembly voted 164-1 to adopt the Equal Earth map projection, which depicts continents in their true relative sizes, notably showing Africa as significantly larger than on traditional maps like the Mercator projection. The United States was the sole nation to vote against the resolution, with its deputy representative calling it a "radical ideological project" rather than a simple cartographic update. Togo's Foreign Minister introduced the resolution on behalf of the African Group, stating that the new map would promote a more just perspective and understanding among nations. While the resolution doesn't mandate abandoning the Mercator projection, it signifies the UN's official endorsement of equal-area maps. Six nations abstained from the vote.

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to back a resolution, spearheaded by African countries, to adopt a new world map projection called Equal Earth. This new map, supported by 164 countries, aims to provide a more accurate representation of continental landmasses, showing Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and Oceania as significantly larger than they appear on the traditional Mercator projection. The Mercator projection, created in 1569 for maritime navigation, distorts the relative sizes of landmasses, making northern regions appear larger and equatorial regions smaller. Togo drove the resolution, emphasizing that maps influence perceptions and education. The United States voted against the resolution, arguing it distracts from more pressing issues, while six other countries abstained. The UN is encouraging member states to adopt the Equal Earth projection, though the resolution is not binding.

The article discusses the inaccuracies of world maps, particularly the widely used Mercator projection. Created over 450 years ago, the Mercator map accurately represents compass bearings as straight lines but distorts the size of landmasses. This projection makes countries near the equator appear smaller and those near the poles larger, a consequence of flattening a spherical Earth onto a two-dimensional surface. Critics argue this distortion can psychologically influence perceptions of importance, implicitly downplaying regions like Africa. The UN's adoption of a new map reflecting Africa's true size highlights the ongoing debate about how maps shape political and economic perceptions.

The UN General Assembly has approved a resolution to update maps. This change aims to depict Africa's true size more accurately. The resolution was backed by the UN General Assembly, indicating a formal decision by this body. The purpose of this action is to correct the common misrepresentation of Africa's vast geographical scale on existing maps. This decision by the UN General Assembly will lead to the adoption of new cartographic representations that better reflect the continent's actual dimensions.

The United Nations General Assembly has endorsed a new world map that more accurately represents the size of Africa. The resolution, sponsored by Togo and supported by the African Union, passed with 164 member states in favor, with the U.S. voting against it. This endorsement encourages the global adoption of the Equal Earth projection over the traditional Mercator map, which significantly distorts the relative sizes of landmasses. While the Mercator map shows Greenland and Africa as similar in size, the Equal Earth projection illustrates Africa as 14 times larger than Greenland. The UN resolution encourages, but does not mandate, the use of the Equal Earth projection, aiming to improve global understanding and perceptions of the world.

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution, spearheaded by African countries, to use a new map projection known as the Equal Earth. This new map aims for a more accurate representation of continental landmasses, resulting in Africa appearing larger while North America and Europe are depicted as smaller. The resolution was supported by 164 member states, with the United States voting against it and six other countries abstaining. The UN General Assembly's decision on Friday signifies a move towards a cartographic representation considered more accurate by its proponents.

The UN General Assembly has voted to adopt a new world map that more accurately depicts Africa's size. This resolution, sponsored by Togo and supported by African Union members, passed with 164 nations voting in favor, while the United States was the sole nation to vote against it, with six abstentions. The change addresses criticisms of the traditional Mercator map, which has been in use since the 16th century and inaccurately portrays Africa as being similar in size to Greenland, despite being 14 times larger. Critics argue this distortion can minimize the development needs and potential of equatorial countries. The Mercator map's distortions are a result of the inherent challenge in representing a globe on a flat surface.

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to adopt a new world map projection, the Equal Earth, which more accurately represents the true size of countries, particularly Africa. This resolution, sponsored by African Union member states and the Bahamas, aims to correct historical distortions caused by the widely-used Mercator map, which has visually shrunk Africa for centuries. The Mercator map, developed in the 16th century, exaggerates landmasses closer to the poles, making Greenland appear similar in size to Africa, despite Africa being significantly larger. While not legally binding, the resolution encourages the use of more accurate maps in education, media, and digital platforms. The United States was the sole country to vote against the resolution, citing an "ideological agenda." France announced its intention to abandon the Mercator map in favor of more accurate representations.