UN General Assembly to Vote on Resolution for More Accurate World Map Depicting Africa's Size > 월드뉴스

The UN General Assembly will vote on a resolution to phase out the traditional Mercator map in favor of one that accurately represents Africa’s size. Scheduled for Friday, the resolution is sponsored by Togo, with support from the African Union and its 54 member states. Togo’s Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Dussey emphasized the discussion as scientific rather than political, citing evidence that supports the need for a more accurate representation. Although UN resolutions are non-enforceable, a successful vote could influence educational curriculums and technology that currently utilize the Mercator projection. This map, introduced in 1569 by cartographer Gerardus Mercator, has been the global standard for centuries but distorts the size of equatorial regions. For instance, Africa appears similar in size to Greenland, despite being 14 times larger. The #CorrectTheMap campaign, which has garnered over 11,000 signatures, aims to promote the 2018 Equal Earth design as a more accurate alternative. Critics argue that the Mercator projection has perpetuated biases in international power dynamics, minimizing the significance of the global south. The campaign seeks to enhance Africa’s representation in global institutions and educational frameworks.