UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution to Correct World Map Proportions
The UN General Assembly approved the 'Correct the Map' resolution, promoting equal-area projections like Equal Earth. The United States was the sole country to vote against the non-binding initiative.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Friday titled "Correct the Map," calling for the promotion of world maps that more accurately represent the relative sizes of continents, particularly Africa. The resolution passed with a majority of 164 countries in favor, one against, and six abstentions.
The initiative was led by Togo on behalf of the African Group at the UN, with the backing of the African Union. The United States was the only nation to vote against the measure, while Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine abstained.
Non-Binding Shift in Cartography
Despite its title, the resolution is non-binding. It does not establish a single official world map, nor does it ban the widely used Mercator projection or alter any international borders or territorial statuses. Instead, it encourages nations, educational institutions, media outlets, international organizations, and technology firms to utilize the Equal Earth projection and other equal-area mapping methods when accurate relative sizes are required. The UN Secretary-General has been requested to report on the implementation of the resolution by the 83rd session of the General Assembly.
The Mercator projection, developed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569, was designed primarily for navigation. It preserves local angles, allowing sailors to plot a straight-line course, but progressively distorts and enlarges landmasses further from the equator. Consequently, Greenland appears roughly the same size as Africa on Mercator maps, even though Africa is actually about 14 times larger.
In contrast, the Equal Earth projection, introduced in 2018, maintains the correct relative proportions of landmasses. Under this system, Africa, Latin America, and South Asia appear larger than they do on Mercator maps, while Europe, North America, and Greenland appear smaller. Cartographers note, however, that any attempt to project a 3D sphere onto a flat surface inevitably results in some distortion of area, shape, distance, or direction.
Debate Over 'Cognitive Justice'
Proponents of the resolution argued that the long-standing dominance of the Mercator projection has led to a "symbolic diminution" of Africa, affecting perceptions of its global standing, needs, and development potential. The text of the resolution framed the correction of these distortions as an act of "cognitive justice" and a symbolic remedy for historical memory, aligning it with broader African Union initiatives seeking reparations for historical injustices.
This framing was the core reason for the American opposition. Yaryna Ferencevych, the US Deputy Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), stated before the vote:
"This resolution makes a mockery of the work and purpose of this institution."
She argued that while the move is presented as an innocent attempt to update map proportions, it is inseparable from a "much larger and more radical ideological project." Ferencevych accused the General Assembly of focusing on a 16th-century mapping system and promoting reparations instead of addressing pressing global issues of peace, security, and international cooperation.
European Responses
France supported the resolution and announced it would phase out the Mercator projection in its diplomatic operations, transitioning to the Eckert IV projection, which also preserves relative areas.
Ukraine explained its abstention by pointing to how certain maps using the Equal Earth projection depict Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russia.
The European Union expressed support for the resolution's objectives but emphasized that it has no bearing on sovereignty, territorial status, or recognized borders. Most EU member states voted in favor, with Estonia and Lithuania choosing to abstain.
