The United Nations made a significant decision on Friday to transition from the traditional Mercator global map, dating back to the 16th century, to a more accurate representation of countries’ actual sizes. This move, spearheaded by African nations, aims to combat the perception that Africa is on the fringes of global importance.
Togo took the lead in championing this initiative, aligning with the African Union’s push to reduce the reliance on the Mercator map. The Mercator projection distorts the sizes of land masses, particularly those closer to the poles, creating a misleading impression. For instance, it incorrectly portrays Greenland as being similar in size to Africa, despite Africa being approximately 14 times larger.
“A fair world begins with a fair map,” emphasized Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey in an interview with Reuters before the UN vote. The resolution advocates for the adoption of the Equal Earth projection, which offers a more precise depiction of continent sizes.
While the resolution is not legally binding, it received overwhelming support in the UN General Assembly, with 164 countries voting in favor, one against, and six abstentions. The United States, the sole dissenting vote, criticized the resolution as advancing an “ideological agenda” and diverting attention from pressing global issues.
Togo has committed to updating its school geography materials by the end of the year, becoming the first country to do so. Dussey highlighted the importance of this change as a model for other nations worldwide.
Furthermore, Togo aims to encourage governments, schools, international organizations, and technology firms to transition away from the outdated Mercator projection towards the Equal Earth model. Dussey emphasized that Equal Earth provides a more accurate representation of the world.
In the coming months, Togo plans to convene African Union member states and allies from various regions to strategize on promoting broader adoption of the Equal Earth projection. Dussey stressed the need for engagement with companies involved in mapping, GPS, and other location-based technologies to facilitate this transition.
Dussey underscored that this map transition aligns with broader African initiatives to address colonial legacies and does not seek to target any specific civilization. He pointed out that the widespread use of the Mercator map stems from historical colonization and emphasized that the world, including Africa, is evolving.