The United Nations General Assembly has recently endorsed a new world map that represents Africa in a more accurate scale. This endorsement comes as a culmination of a campaign led by various African nations and advocacy groups aimed at correcting historical inaccuracies in world maps, particularly regarding the depiction of Africa's size compared to other continents.
The resolution was sponsored by Togo and gained substantial support, with 164 member states voting in favor. The only nation to vote against the resolution was the United States, while six countries—Serbia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, and Ukraine—chose to abstain from the vote. This significant backing emphasizes a collective desire for more accurate representations in global geographical portrayals.
The United Nations advocates for the replacement of the traditional Mercator map, which has been in common use since the 16th century, with the Equal Earth projection. Proponents of the Equal Earth map argue that it represents geographical locations more accurately. The disparity between the two projections is stark; for instance, the Mercator map depicts Greenland and Africa as being roughly equal in size. In contrast, the Equal Earth projection reveals that Africa is actually 14 times larger than Greenland, highlighting the significant distortion that the Mercator map presents.
The U.N.'s resolution does not mandate a ban on the Mercator projection or enforce a mandatory switch to the Equal Earth map. Instead, it encourages institutions and governments worldwide to consider integrating the Equal Earth projection as an alternative. Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey emphasized the importance of maps in shaping our understanding of the world, stating, "Maps shape our understanding of the world. They guide education, nourish the imagination, and influence collective perceptions."
Africa No Filter, a prominent campaign organization advocating for the new map, expressed optimism regarding the resolution. They expressed a desire to see accurate maps utilized in educational institutions, textbooks, newsrooms, businesses, and across digital platforms, emphasizing their significance in shaping perceptions among billions of users daily. This view was reinforced by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who acknowledged that while changing the map does not alter reality, correcting distorted representations is a vital act of truth.
The longstanding Mercator map was originally designed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator to aid European navigators at sea. However, this projection has faced criticism for distorting the true sizes of landmasses, particularly exaggerating areas near the poles such as North America and Greenland while diminishing the representation of Africa and South America. In stark contrast, the Equal Earth projection, introduced in 2018, adheres more closely to the Earth's curvature, displaying continents in a more proportionate manner.
Many geographers contend that the traditional Mercator map serves primarily for navigation purposes. Mark Monmonier, a professor of geography at Syracuse University, noted that beyond navigation, "there is no point in using it," suggesting a shift towards more accurate geographical representations is overdue.
