The United Nations took a significant step on Friday by approving a resolution that moves away from the traditional Mercator global map, which distorts the size of countries. This resolution, spearheaded by African nations, aims to provide a more accurate representation of countries’ true sizes, countering the misconception that Africa is marginal.
Togo played a leading role in advocating for this shift, aligning with the African Union’s initiative to reduce the use of the Mercator map. The Mercator projection exaggerates land masses closer to the poles, making Greenland appear 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 endorses the Equal Earth projection, which offers a more precise depiction of continent sizes.
While the resolution is not legally binding and does not challenge the Mercator projection’s suitability for navigation purposes, it passed in the UN General Assembly with overwhelming support, garnering 164 votes in favor and only one vote against from the United States, which criticized it for promoting an ideological agenda.
Togo plans to lead by example by updating its school geography materials by the end of the year, becoming the first country to do so. Dussey expressed the intention to encourage other governments, schools, international organizations, and technology firms to transition away from the outdated Mercator projection in favor of the Equal Earth model, which he believes provides the most accurate global perspective.
Looking ahead, Togo aims to collaborate with African Union members and allies from various regions to facilitate broader adoption of the Equal Earth projection. Dussey stressed the importance of involving companies involved in mapping, GPS, and location-based technologies in these discussions.
He emphasized that the campaign to embrace the new map aligns with broader African efforts to address colonial legacies, clarifying that it is not an affront to any specific civilization. Dussey underscored that change is inevitable, and Africa is evolving along with the rest of the world.
