GoKawiilUN General Assembly backs Equal Earth map over Mercator by 164-1 vote
The UN General Assembly passed a resolution urging governments, schools and tech firms to adopt equal-area map projections like Equal Earth instead of the Mercator projection, which distorts continents' relative sizes. The measure passed 164-1, with only the United States opposed and six countries abstaining; it does not ban Mercator maps but recommends alternatives where accurate size comparisons matter.
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The Mercator projection, designed centuries ago for sea navigation, systematically shrinks equatorial regions like Africa while enlarging northern landmasses such as Greenland, which campaigners argue has reinforced skewed perceptions of Africa's scale and global importance. The vote signals growing diplomatic momentum for correcting inherited colonial-era distortions in widely used tools, even though it carries no binding enforcement power.
- UN resolution passed 164-1, encouraging equal-area maps like Equal Earth over Mercator projections.
- Africa is roughly 14 times larger than Greenland despite appearing similar in size on Mercator maps.
- The US was the sole opposing vote, calling the effort a 'radical ideological project'.
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Published there as: “UN Votes To Encourage Map Projections More Accurately Reflecting the True Size of Continents”
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