UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. General Assembly on Friday endorsed wider use of the Equal Earth map projection to show Africa’s true relative size, adopting a Togo-sponsored resolution backed by the African Union by 164 votes to 1, with six abstentions, the Associated Press reported.
Only the United States voted no; Serbia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, and Ukraine abstained. The nonbinding text encourages governments and institutions to move away from the Mercator projection, which enlarges high-latitude lands and shrinks equatorial regions. On Equal Earth, Africa appears about 14 times larger than Greenland, versus roughly equal size on Mercator.
Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said maps shape education and collective perception. Africa No Filter and other campaigners said they want accurate maps in schools, newsrooms, and digital platforms. The resolution does not ban Mercator or change borders.
Sources: AP; UN Meetings Coverage.
