Overview
- The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to encourage use of equal‑area projections, with 164 countries in favour, six abstaining and the United States opposed.
- The non‑binding resolution recommends the Equal Earth projection when relative land size matters but does not ban the Mercator projection or force any country or company to change maps.
- Sponsors led by Togo and backed by the African Union say the change corrects distortions that understate Africa’s size and shape perceptions, while critics say the resolution overstates evidence linking projections to socioeconomic harm.
- Education and curriculum bodies have signalled cautious, audit‑based responses that could include guidance, digital resources and phased textbook updates rather than immediate wholesale replacement.
- Practical mapping uses such as maritime navigation and mainstream digital apps are expected to keep Mercator variants for operational reasons, and experts say adoption by tech platforms will be slow and context dependent.