UN approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa’s true size

On Friday, the United Nations voted to move away from the 16th-century Mercator world map in favor of one that more accurately shows countries’ true sizes, a resolution backed by African states aiming to challenge the idea that the continent is on the margins.

Togo spearheaded an effort to support the African Union’s campaign to reduce the use of the Mercator map, which skews the true size of land masses by enlarging those closer to the poles. This projection makes Greenland look about the same size as Africa, even though Africa is actually around 14 times bigger.

“A fair world begins with a fair map,” Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert ​Dussey told Reuters ahead of Friday’s vote.

The resolution promotes the Equal Earth projection, which more accurately portrays the ​size of the continents.

It is not legally binding and it “in no way challenges the use of the Mercator projection for maritime and aerial navigation, for which it remains fully suited,” the Togolese ministry said in a statement.

The resolution passed in the U.N. ​General Assembly by a vote of 164 to 1 with 6 abstentions.

The United States, the only country to ​vote against the resolution, said it promoted an “ideological agenda” and was a distraction from the “genuine problems of international peace, prosperity ‌or good ⁠relations”.

TOGO TO CHANGE MAPS IN SCHOOLS THIS YEAR, MINISTER SAYS

The Mercator map remains widely used in classrooms, but Togo hopes to change its school geography materials by the end of the year, Dussey told Reuters.

“Togo will be the first country to change our own geography books,” Dussey said.

“In the classroom, we need to change ​it to give an example ​to all the countries ⁠in the world.”

Togo will press other governments, schools, international organisations and technology companies to move away from the centuries-old Mercator projection, Dussey said, adding that Equal Earth ​offers “the best perception” of the world.

Togo plans to meet African Union member states and ​supporters from ⁠other regions within the next six months to agree on how to promote wider adoption, Dussey said.

Dussey said the discussion about next steps would need to include companies operating mapping, GPS and other location-based technologies.