The United Nations made a significant decision on Friday to move away from the outdated Mercator global map, which distorts the true size of countries. The resolution, supported by African nations, aims to address the misrepresentation of Africa as peripheral due to the map’s inaccuracies.
Togo spearheaded the effort to advance the African Union’s campaign to reduce the use of the Mercator map, known for exaggerating land masses closer to the poles. This distortion leads to misleading comparisons, such as Greenland appearing similar in size to Africa despite Africa being significantly larger.
Togo’s Foreign Minister, Robert Dussey, emphasized the importance of using a fair map for a fair world. The resolution advocates for the Equal Earth projection, a more precise representation of continent sizes.
While the resolution is not legally binding and does not challenge the Mercator projection’s suitability for navigation purposes, it garnered strong support at the UN General Assembly, with 164 countries voting in favor and only one, the United States, opposing it. The U.S. criticized the resolution as promoting an ideological agenda and diverting attention from pressing global issues.
Togo plans to lead by example by updating its school geography materials to reflect the Equal Earth projection by the end of the year. Dussey stated that Togo aims to encourage other nations, educational institutions, and technology companies to transition away from the outdated Mercator map in favor of more accurate representations like Equal Earth.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts in Africa to address colonial legacies and promote accurate depictions of the continent. Dussey emphasized that the world is evolving, and Africa is playing a crucial role in shaping these changes.