Full Breakdown
UN General Assembly Endorses Equal Earth Projection for World Maps
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Adoption of a New World Map Projection
On September 4, 2026, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a non-binding resolution encouraging the use of the Equal Earth projection, an equal-area map that more accurately reflects continent sizes. The vote recorded 164 votes in favour, one against, and six abstentions. The resolution does not prohibit the Mercator projection but urges governments, educational bodies, and international organizations to consider the Equal Earth version for public communication and policy work.
Background & Context
The Mercator projection, created by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, preserves compass bearings but enlarges regions near the poles, making Africa appear roughly the same size as Greenland despite being about 14 times larger. Cartographers and African diplomats argue that such distortions reinforce a “cognitive injustice.” In February 2026, the African Union formally adopted the Equal Earth projection, and Togo led the UN resolution, citing the need for a fairer visual representation of global geography.
Data & Statistics
- Distortion comparison: Mercator can make land near the poles appear 2 to 14 times its true size; Equal Earth minimizes these area distortions.
- Vote outcome: 164-1-6 as recorded by the United Nations General Assembly.
Official Statements & Responses
Togo’s foreign minister Robert Dussey framed the change as “cognitive justice,” arguing that map size influences perceptions of political and economic importance. The United States delegation, represented by Yaryna Ferencevych, called the resolution a “radical and ideological project.”
Japan, while voting in favour, lodged a diplomatic protest through Minoru Kihara, chief cabinet secretary, over the map’s colour scheme for the disputed Kuril Islands. India’s external affairs ministry warned that any depiction of Jammu and Kashmir inconsistent with its official map would be “unacceptable.”
Criticism & Opposition
The United States was the sole nation to vote against the resolution, describing it as an ideological agenda that politicizes geography. Japan, Ukraine, and India raised concerns about how disputed territories are coloured, fearing the map could be interpreted as taking sides.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree on the vote count and the resolution’s purpose. The rationale for the six abstentions varies: Al Jazeera notes Ukraine abstained over the Crimean shading, while other outlets list Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine as abstaining for “solidarity” reasons. No source provides a timeline for when the Equal Earth projection might become the default in textbooks or digital platforms, leaving the implementation pathway unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Ukraine does not in principle oppose the core issue addressed in this draft resolution,” — Andrii Melnyk
- “Displays that contradict the Japanese government’s position are seen [on the map],” — Minoru Kihara, chief cabinet secretary
- “Maps shape our understanding of the world,” — Robert Dussey, Togo’s foreign minister
- “Instead of focusing on genuine problems of international peace, prosperity, or good relations, this body is debating map projects from the 16th century, and their role in promoting reparations and ‘cognitive justice,'” — Yaryna Ferencevych
What’s Next
The resolution calls for voluntary adoption of the Equal Earth projection. Cartographic societies, publishers, and technology companies will need to revise existing map assets, a process that requires financial and labour investment. No specific deadlines have been set, and the UN has not mandated a transition schedule.