UN backs new map showing Africa's true relative size with US alone in opposition
20 days ago
- The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted the 'Correct the Map' resolution, introduced by Togo on behalf of the African Group, with 164 votes in favor, the US voting against, and six abstentions.
- The resolution encourages wider use of equal-area projections like the Equal Earth map, which accurately shows Africa's true relative size, unlike the traditional Mercator projection that distorts sizes, making northern regions appear larger.
- Critics argue the Mercator projection warps perceptions of Africa's size and importance, while supporters say a fairer map can challenge misconceptions; the US opposed the resolution, calling it an ideological distraction.
- The Equal Earth projection, developed in 2018 by cartographers Tom Patterson, Bernhard Jenny, and Bojan Šavrič, provides a proportionally accurate picture of landmasses without distorting areas.