The United Nations General Assembly has approved a groundbreaking resolution that revises global cartography by enlarging Africa's representation while decreasing the sizes of North America and Europe. This decision, made on September 4, 2026, has drawn sharp criticism from the United States.
A Call for Accurate Representation
They are therefore never neutral; when they present a distorted image of our planet, they risk perpetuating inaccurate representation that is passed down through generations.
Robert Dussey, Foreign Minister of Togo
- 164 countries supported the resolution.
- The US and six other nations voted against or abstained.
- The new map is based on the Equal Earth cartographic projection.
The resolution was backed by 164 countries, reflecting a growing recognition of the need for a more equitable portrayal of global geography. The US opposed the resolution, with its representative arguing that the UN should focus on pressing global issues rather than cartographic debates.
The Equal Earth cartographic projection, developed in 2018, strives to provide a more accurate representation of landmass sizes, correcting the distortions present in the traditional Mercator projection. This older method, created in 1569, often exaggerates the size of landmasses in the northern hemisphere, leading to a skewed view of global geography.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, a co-sponsor of the resolution, emphasized the importance of correcting these historical inaccuracies, stating that changing maps is a step towards truth.
This initiative aligns with France's efforts to strengthen ties with African nations, particularly those with which it has had complex relationships, as it seeks to foster better diplomatic relations.