The United Nations has taken a significant step towards rectifying a long-standing cartographic inaccuracy. In a landmark vote held on Friday, September 4, 2026 the UN General Assembly approved a resolution to phase out the traditional Mercator map in favor of the more accurate Equal Earth projection. This decision, spearheaded by Togo on behalf of the African Union aims to correct the distorted representation of Africa and other equatorial regions that has persisted for centuries.
The Mercator projection, introduced by the Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569 has been the global standard for navigation. However, its design inadvertently shrinks regions near the equator while enlarging high-latitude areas. For instance, Africa appears similar in size to Greenland on the Mercator map, despite being 14 times larger in reality. The resolution, supported by 164 countries seeks to address this discrepancy and promote a more equitable global perspective.
The Scientific and Political Implications of the Resolution
The resolution, though non-binding, is expected to influence educational curricula and technological applications worldwide. Robert Dussey Togo’s foreign affairs minister, emphasized that the discussion was scientific rather than political, citing the scientific proof that supports the need for change. The resolution recognizes the cognitive, educational, cultural, geopolitical, and socioeconomic effects of the Mercator projection, which have contributed to a skewed global imagination.
France, a key supporter of the resolution, announced its intention to abandon the Mercator projection in favor of map representations tailored to specific uses. Jean-Noël Barrot France’s foreign minister, stated that the new maps would be more faithful to actual surface areas and align with the recommendations of cartographers and scientists. France will now use the Eckert IV projection which is close to the Equal Earth projection recommended in the resolution.
The Historical Context and Alternatives to the Mercator Projection
The Mercator projection has long been criticized for its cartographic colonialism subtly shaping international power dynamics by minimizing the physical presence of the global south. Historians and geographers argue that the map has reinforced systemic biases in international trade, development priorities, and educational frameworks. One of the most prominent critics of the Mercator projection was Arno Peters a German historian who launched the Peters world map based on the Gall–Peters projection in 1973.
The Equal Earth design developed by an international team of cartographers in 2018 offers a more accurate representation of the world’s continents. Supporters of the design argue that it will help reverse perceptions of Africa and decolonize global curricula. The #CorrectTheMap campaign, endorsed by the African Union in August 2025 has garnered over 11,000 signatures and highlights the need for a more equitable global perspective.
The Future of Cartographic Representation
The resolution’s success is seen as a significant step towards greater influence for African nations in global institutions. JJ Enoch a senior associate at JS Held a geopolitical risk advisory firm, linked the campaign to a quest by African nations for greater control over how the continent is represented. Adopting an equal-area map, he argued, would provide a more accurate basis for education and public understanding.
Togo’s government plans to host an event in Lomé the Togolese capital, with Unesco the African Union and tech brands such as Google Maps during the first quarter of next year. The event aims to map out the implementation of the resolution and encourage the adoption of the Equal Earth projection in various applications.
The resolution’s passage marks a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to correct historical inaccuracies and promote a more equitable global perspective. As Robert Dussey noted, it is time for Africa to take responsibility and change what it can change itself.
