International movement for equal-area map projections

A diplomatic movement has emerged to replace the Mercator projection with equal-area maps to ensure more accurate geographic representation of continental sizes. The Mercator projection, while useful for maritime navigation, is criticized for distorting landmasses by making polar regions appear disproportionately large compared to equatorial regions.

Following a push by Togo and the African Group, the United Nations General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution titled ‘Correct the Map’. The resolution, which received 164 votes in favor, encourages governments, media, and educational institutions to adopt projections such as ‘Equal Earth’ when the relative size of continents is the primary focus. The United States opposed the resolution, describing it as a ‘radical ideological project’. Other nations, including Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine, abstained from the vote.

In response to these developments, the African Union has adopted the Equal Earth projection, and France has announced it will phase out the Mercator projection in its diplomatic maps in favor of the Eckert IV projection. Togo intends to continue the initiative by convening UNESCO, the African Union, and technology companies in early 2027. The initiative seeks to correct long-standing cartographic distortions that exaggerate the size of the Global North while minimizing the landmass of the Global South, such as the discrepancy where Greenland appears similar in size to Africa despite Africa being approximately 14 times larger.