UN Backs New Map Projection to Reflect True Continent Sizes
The UN General Assembly passed a resolution supporting the use of the Equal Earth map projection to more accurately represent the true sizes of continents, with 164 countries voting in favor and only the United States opposing. The resolution aims to correct long-standing cartographic distortions, particularly the exaggerated size of regions near the poles.
Consensus
- The UN General Assembly passed a resolution supporting the Equal Earth map projection.
- 164 countries voted in favor of the resolution.
- The United States was the only country to vote against the resolution.
- The Equal Earth projection provides a more accurate representation of the true relative sizes of continents and territories.
- The current Mercator projection, used since the 16th century, distorts the size of landmasses, especially near the poles.
- The resolution urges governments, schools, international organizations, and tech companies to adopt the Equal Earth projection.
- The distortion in the Mercator projection makes Africa appear much smaller than it actually is, with some maps showing Greenland as comparable in size to Africa despite Africa being nearly 14 times larger.
Points of divergence
- Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Serbia, Lithuania, and Estonia voted to abstain. — vm
- The U.S. views the initiative as part of a broader 'ideological agenda' and believes such resolutions distract the UN from core issues of international peace and relations. — vm
- Russia will appear visually smaller on new maps, aligning more closely with its actual geographic size. — vm
- Donald Trump renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America on a map amid trade disputes with Ottawa. — vm
- Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts, and steel, accusing Ottawa of 'ripping off' the U.S. for years. — vm
Coverage (5 sources)
- Why the UN voted for a rejection of the traditional world map — Дождь
- Washington opposed UN resolution on real sizes of Africa on maps — Вечерняя Москва
- USA is the only one to oppose UN resolution in support of Equal Earth map — Вести
- USA was the only one to vote in the General Assembly against the UN resolution in support of the Equal Earth map, showing the true... — ТАСС (Telegram)
- USA voted alone in the General Assembly against the UN resolution supporting the Equal Earth map, showing true... — ТАСС (Telegram)
Key entities
- UN
- USA
- Africa
- General Assembly
- TASS
- Ukraine
- Lithuania
- Moldova
- Georgia
- Greenland
- Estonia
- Serbia
- Washington
- Reuters
- Mercator