UN Urges Shift From Mercator to Equal Earth Projection

Overview

• The UN General Assembly approved a non-binding resolution recommending area-accurate projections on Sept. 4, 2026, with 164 votes in favor, six abstentions and a single vote against.
• The text promotes the Equal Earth projection as the preferred alternative because it preserves continental area proportions and reduces the polar exaggeration found in Mercator maps.
• France said it will abandon Mercator in official use immediately, signaling that some governments may move faster than others to change official maps and documents.
• The United States was the lone 'no' vote, with its UN representative saying the measure is part of a broader ideological project, highlighting political disagreement over symbolic reforms.
• Practical change will be gradual because the resolution is advisory; proponents plan technical meetings with UNESCO, tech firms and a Lomé event in early 2027 to guide updates to school curricula, government materials and mapping platforms.