Driftspace
The United Nations General Assembly voted on September 4 to encourage government
The United Nations General Assembly voted on September 4 to encourage governments and institutions worldwide to replace the Mercator map — in widespread use since the sixteenth century — with the Equal Earth projection, which represents land areas in their correct relative sizes. The resolution passed with 164 votes in favour; the United States cast the sole opposing vote, while a small group of countries abstained. Togo introduced the resolution on behalf of the African Union. Advocates have long argued that the Mercator, designed primarily for maritime navigation, visually compresses equatorial regions — including the African continent — while making lands nearer the poles appear larger than they are. The resolution is non-binding and explicitly preserves the Mercator for navigation. Supporters argue that visual representation on maps shapes how students, policymakers, and the public perceive the relative weight of different parts of the world. Has the map you first learned with shaped how you picture the world today?