UN passes Africa-backed map resolution 164-1, US the lone dissenter

The UN General Assembly adopted a nonbinding, African-led resolution encouraging the use of equal-area maps, including the Equal Earth projection, to depict continents’ relative sizes more accurately. The measure passed 164-1, with six abstentions; the United States was the sole opponent, calling it ideological and a distraction from more pressing issues. Supporters led by Togo and backed by the African Union argue that the widely used Mercator projection makes northern regions appear disproportionately large and Africa smaller and more peripheral than it is. Mercator remains useful for maritime and aerial navigation because it preserves direction and angles, and the resolution does not ban or formally replace it. Sponsors say broader use of accurate maps in classrooms, media, international institutions and technology platforms could address colonial-era perceptions and improve geographic understanding.