Story perspectives

UN votes 164-1 to urge Equal Earth map adoption

9/6/2026

Left

UN Urges Equal Earth

The UN General Assembly voted 164-1, with six abstentions, to urge adoption of the Equal Earth map projection.
Supporters claim the Mercator projection’s distortion perpetuates colonial bias and marginalizes African peoples in education and public perception.
The resolution urges governments, schools and tech firms to adopt the Equal Earth projection.
France, a co-sponsor, will abandon the Mercator map, citing its over-representation of the United States.

Right

UN Urges EqualEarth

On 4 September 2026, United Nations General Assembly voted 164-1, with six abstentions, to urge adoption of the Equal Earth map projection.
U.S. deputy representative Yaryna Ferencevych called the measure an anodyne effort and part of a larger ideological project.
Robert Dussey of Togo introduced the resolution, saying a fair map changes perception, not geography.
A Change.org petition for a fairer map has gathered over 12,000 signatures since early 2025.

Center

UN Pushes EqualEarth

On 4 September 2026, the United Nations General Assembly voted 164-1, with six abstentions, to urge use of the Equal Earth map projection.
Togo’s Robert Dussey, presenting the resolution, said maps “guide education, nourish imagination, and influence collective perceptions,” emphasizing their role beyond geography.
The resolution is non-binding and recommends replacing Mercator with equal-area maps in schools.
France announced it will abandon the Mercator projection, joining the African Union’s campaign.

Blindspot

The resolution does not obligate member states to abandon the Mercator projection, instead designating equal-area maps as the United Nations’ preferred depiction, according to the United Nations delegation.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Right-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

James Gall first described the cylindrical equal-area projection in 1855; Arno Peters popularized the same map as the “Peters World Map” in 1973, emphasizing its 45° N and 45° S standard parallels that preserve area. The controversy spurred UNESCO promotion and adoption in British schools, illustrating a late-20th-century shift toward cartographic equity.

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UN Urges Equal Earth

The UN General Assembly voted 164-1, with six abstentions, to urge adoption of the Equal Earth map projection.
Supporters claim the Mercator projection’s distortion perpetuates colonial bias and marginalizes African peoples in education and public perception.
The resolution urges governments, schools and tech firms to adopt the Equal Earth projection.
France, a co-sponsor, will abandon the Mercator map, citing its over-representation of the United States.

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