The United Nations General Assembly has voted to move away from the 16th-century Mercator global map toward one more accurately reflecting countries’ true size, according to a resolution sponsored by African states to counter perceptions that the continent is peripheral. The UN vote passed 164 to 1 on Friday (US time), with the United States casting the sole opposing vote and six abstentions.
Origins and Critiques of the Mercator Map Projection
Created in 1569 by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator to assist mariners in plotting courses across the globe, the Mercator map was produced by projecting the Earth’s surface onto a cylinder before flattening that representation into a rectangular shape. While valuable to sailors because any straight line drawn on it corresponded to a compass bearing, opponents argue that the cartographic method introduces a hidden skew: wealthy Northern nations appear oversized, whereas equatorial areas containing primarily developing nations look tiny. According to the resolution, this distortion makes Greenland appear roughly the same size as Africa, though Africa is about 14 times larger. Spearheaded by Togo, the effort aimed to advance the African Union’s mission to restrict utilization of the Mercator map, which detractors claim perpetuates an imperialist perspective.
The Equal Earth Alternative and UN General Assembly Vote
The resolution promotes the Equal Earth projection, created by cartographers Bojan Savric, Bernhard Jenny and Tom Patterson in 2018, which sacrifices that to show landmasses in correct proportions. While Africa and Australia, for example, appear bigger, North America and Europe look smaller. According to statements from the Togolese ministry, the resolution is not legally binding and it “in no way challenges the use of the Mercator projection for maritime and aerial navigation, for which it remains fully suited”. The United States, standing alone in opposition to the measure, argued that it advanced an “ideological agenda” and served as a distraction from the “genuine problems of international peace, prosperity or good relations”.
Did you know?
According to Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, Togo plans to change its school geography materials by the end of the year, with Dussey stating, “Togo will be the first country to change our own geography books.”
Togo-Led Campaign and Next Steps for Global Adoption
In the wake of the United Nations ballot, Foreign Minister Robert Dussey announced that Togo will lobby other national administrations, educational institutions, worldwide entities, and technology firms to transition away from the centuries-old Mercator projection. Dussey indicated that over the next half-year, Togo intends to hold discussions with African Union member states and international allies to reach a consensus on encouraging broader implementation. These talks would need to include companies operating mapping, GPS and other location-based technologies. Connecting the push for the new map to broader continental initiatives aimed at addressing historical imperial impacts, Dussey maintained that the drive does not constitute an assault on Europe or any other civilization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What map did the United Nations vote to promote?
The United Nations approved a resolution to transition away from the traditional 16th-century Mercator world map in favor of an alternative that displays the true relative dimensions of nations with greater precision.
Why do critics oppose the Mercator map?
Detractors contend that the cartographic layout produces an underlying distortion, making affluent Northern countries look expansive while portraying tropical zones dominated by developing nations as diminutive, thereby upholding an imperialist worldview.
Is the Mercator map banned for navigation?
Which country voted against the resolution?
The US was the only country to vote against the resolution, saying it promoted an “ideological agenda”.
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