Togo UN: 'Correct the Map' Resolution Adopted to Fix Cartographic Distortions

• The UN General Assembly adopted the 'Correct the Map' resolution on September 4, 2026, encouraging the use of maps that accurately reflect continental sizes.
• Introduced by Togo on behalf of the African Group and backed by the African Union, the resolution passed with 164 votes in favor, one against (United States), and six abstentions.
• The resolution targets the Mercator projection, developed in 1569, which distorts land area, making higher-latitude landmasses appear larger than they are.
• Africa, measuring 30.3 million square kilometers, is particularly affected, often appearing comparable to Greenland despite being nearly 14 times larger.
• Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey stated that maps "shape our understanding of the world" and "influence collective perceptions," underscoring the initiative's importance.

Africa, a continent largely positioned near the equator, is profoundly affected by this inaccuracy.

The United Nations General Assembly officially adopted a significant resolution on Friday, September 4, 2026, advocating for the widespread use of world maps that more accurately represent the true relative sizes of continents. This pivotal measure, known as the 'Correct the Map' resolution, was introduced by Togo on behalf of the African Group and garnered robust support from the African Union, marking a concerted effort to address long-standing cartographic inaccuracies.

The resolution received overwhelming international backing, with 164 member states voting in favor. Only one nation, the United States, cast a dissenting vote, while six others chose to abstain. The core aim of this Togo UN 'Correct the Map' resolution is to encourage governments, international organizations, educational institutions, and technology companies to adopt equal-area projections, such as the Equal Earth map, particularly when precise comparisons of landmasses are crucial for understanding and policy.

At the heart of the newly adopted resolution lies the pervasive issue of cartographic distortion, primarily stemming from the Mercator projection. Developed in 1569, this projection was initially designed for maritime navigation, a purpose for which it excels by preserving directional accuracy. However, its method inherently distorts the actual land area of continents, particularly those situated further from the equator.

This distortion leads to a significant misrepresentation of global geography. Landmasses located at higher latitudes appear considerably larger than their true dimensions, while regions closer to the equator are often depicted as smaller than they are. Africa, a continent largely positioned near the equator, is profoundly affected by this inaccuracy. Despite covering an immense area of approximately 30.3 million square kilometers, Mercator maps frequently portray Africa as comparable in size to Greenland, even though Africa is nearly 14 times larger in reality. This specific and dramatic misrepresentation served as a primary catalyst for the initiative led by Togo.

Togo spearheaded the negotiations for this landmark resolution, acting on behalf of the African Group and as part of a broader, continent-wide campaign supported by the African Union. The nation's diplomatic efforts culminated in the successful passage of the 'Correct the Map' resolution, underscoring a commitment to fostering a more accurate global understanding through improved cartography.

Speaking at the United Nations, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey articulated the profound impact of maps on human perception and knowledge. He emphasized that maps are not merely navigational tools but fundamental instruments that "shape our understanding of the world." Minister Dussey further elaborated that these visual representations "guide education, feed the imagination and influence collective perceptions," highlighting the critical need for their accuracy in shaping global perspectives.

Source: Original reporting via {source}