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UN Resolution Encourages Accurate World Maps, Navigation Apps Unlikely to Change
Key points
- UN General Assembly passed a resolution for more accurate world maps.
- 164 countries voted in favor; the US opposed it.
- The resolution is non-binding and encourages use of equal-area maps.
- Navigation apps like Google Maps use Mercator projections, distorting sizes.
- The resolution was backed by the African Union.
- Togo's foreign minister Robert Dussey spoke before the vote.
- Mercator projection was created in 1569.
- Mercator projection is good for sea navigation.
UN Resolution on Map Accuracy
The United Nations General Assembly recently passed an African-led resolution advocating for the use of world maps that more accurately depict the relative sizes of continents. The resolution received 164 votes in favor, with six abstentions. The United States was the sole country to vote against it, citing it as a "radical ideological project."
This non-binding resolution encourages governments, schools, international organizations, and technology companies to adopt equal-area map projections, such as the Equal Earth projection, when relative size is important. It also promotes education on the trade-offs involved in representing a spherical Earth on a flat map.
Mercator Projection Dominance in Navigation
Despite the UN resolution, popular navigation applications, including Google Maps and Apple Maps, are unlikely to abandon their use of Mercator map projections. These digital maps are modernized versions of the 16th-century Mercator map, originally designed by Gerardus Mercator in 1569.
The Mercator projection was developed to provide straight lines consistent with compass bearings, making it highly practical for maritime navigation. This practicality led to its widespread adoption, and it remains a dominant projection in digital mapping, with Google Maps alone serving over 2 billion monthly users.
Distortions of the Mercator Map
A significant drawback of the Mercator projection is its inaccurate representation of continent sizes. Landmasses appear progressively larger the farther they are from the equator. For instance, Africa, which is 14 times larger than Greenland, appears to be roughly the same size on a Mercator map.
These visual distortions can have implications beyond cartography. Research published in Communication Reports suggests that the Mercator map, when paired with national security arguments, could influence public perception regarding geopolitical proposals, such as the Trump administration's suggestion to purchase Greenland.
Updates
- The resolution was backed by the African Union.
- Togo's foreign minister Robert Dussey spoke before the vote.
- Mercator projection was created in 1569.
- Mercator projection is good for sea navigation.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
The United Nations General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution encouraging the use of world maps that accurately represent continent sizes. Despite this, major navigation applications like Google Maps and Apple Maps are expected to continue using Mercator projections, which distort landmass sizes.
The United Nations endorsed a resolution to promote maps that accurately reflect the true size of continents, moving away from the 500-year-old Mercator projection. This decision aims to address the Mercator map's distortion of landmass sizes, particularly inflating Europe, Russia, and North America, which has historically influenced global perceptions.