UN backs African‑led campaign for more accurate world map projections
The United Nations General Assembly voted to endorse an African‑driven initiative calling for map projections that more accurately reflect the relative size of continents, especially Africa. Togo’s foreign minister Robert Dussey said traditional Mercator maps diminish Africa and distort global geography. The resolution promotes equal‑area projections such as the 2018 Equal Earth model, which preserve land‑area ratios at the expense of shape.
While many member states expressed support, the United States opposed the measure, citing ideological concerns. The vote is non‑binding but urges governments, schools, international bodies and technology platforms to adopt the recommended projections.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning outlets covered this 7h later
- Right-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
- Coverage peaked at 6 outlets in a single hour
Why it matters
More accurate maps can change how people perceive the world, influencing education, media and policy.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTAll camps report the UN vote to endorse a new map projection that more accurately shows Africa’s size, but left-leaning coverage emphasizes the African-led push to correct colonial distortions, centrist coverage presents the vote as a non-binding recommendation and notes the US lone dissent as ideological, while right-leaning coverage frames the resolution as a politically-charged, ideological project and highlights criticism of the US stance.
LEFT
Coverage frames the story as an African-driven effort to replace the outdated Mercator map with a fairer, more accurate projection that corrects historical distortions.
CENTER
Coverage frames the story as a UN-backed, non-binding recommendation to adopt equal-area maps, noting the overwhelming support and the United States’ solitary ideological opposition.
RIGHT
Coverage frames the story as a politically motivated initiative, portraying the resolution as an ideological agenda and emphasizing criticism of the United States’ dissent.
The left emphasises
- the campaign is “African-led” and seeks to show Africa at its “true scale”
- maps “shape our understanding” and the Mercator projection “reinforces colonial-era stereotypes”
- the resolution urges governments, schools and tech platforms to adopt the Equal Earth projection
The right emphasises
- the resolution is described as an “ideological” or “radical” project
- criticism of the Mercator map as inflating Western regions and minimizing Africa
- the United States’ opposition is highlighted as a lone, politically-motivated dissent
How this story developed
- Sep 4 UN votes to replace Mercator map with Africa-accurate projection
- Sep 4 The UN General Assembly scheduled a vote on the resolution.
- Sep 8 The United States publicly opposed the resolution, describing it as an ideological agenda.
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