Togo UN Resolution Map Projections: UNGA Adopts Equal Earth Standard

• The UN General Assembly adopted the "Correct the Map" resolution on September 4, 2026, encouraging equal-area map projections for accurate land area representation.
• Togo introduced the resolution on behalf of the African Group, which received 164 votes in favor.
• Designers of the Equal Earth projection will provide technical expertise to Togo and the African Union, including creating reference maps and educational resources for African schools.
• The African Union previously adopted the Equal Earth projection in February 2026 to accurately depict Africa's size and encouraged its use in member states' school curricula.
• Togo plans to submit a concept note to establish a scientific advisory group to support the resolution's implementation.

The resolution, introduced by Togo on behalf of the African Group, specifically encourages the adoption of equal-area projections to ensure the accurate representation of relative land area.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a significant resolution titled “Correct the Map” on September 4, 2026, marking a global effort to enhance the accuracy of geographical representations. This resolution, spearheaded by Togo on behalf of the African Group, garnered substantial international support, receiving 164 votes in favor. Its core directive encourages the use of equal-area projections, particularly when the precise depiction of relative land area is crucial for understanding global geography.

Following this landmark decision, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey convened a virtual meeting on September 20, bringing together key figures in cartography. During this meeting, Tom Patterson, Bernhard Jenny, and Bojan Šavrič, the original designers of the Equal Earth map projection, committed to providing their technical expertise to both Togo and the African Union. Their collaboration will encompass several vital contributions, including the creation of authoritative reference maps, offering direct support to various governments and institutions, and developing educational resources specifically tailored for African school systems.

The initiative to promote more accurate map projections builds upon the established merits of the Equal Earth projection. Published in 2018, this particular projection is renowned for its ability to preserve the relative size of land areas, offering a more equitable visual representation of continents and countries compared to traditional projections. Its accuracy and utility have led to its adoption by prominent organizations, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Esri, a leading developer of mapping and spatial-analysis software.

This global push for cartographic precision aligns with an earlier commitment made by the African Union. In February 2026, the continental organization officially adopted the Equal Earth projection as its standard for representing Africa’s true size in relation to other continents. Concurrently, the African Union encouraged its member states to integrate this projection into their national school curricula, aiming to foster a more accurate geographical understanding among students across the continent.

The UN General Assembly's resolution, emphasizing equal-area map representation, underscores the importance of visual accuracy in global education and policy. The technical collaboration with the Equal Earth projection designers is central to realizing this goal, particularly through the development of educational materials that will introduce this more accurate perspective to African school systems. This educational component is critical for correcting long-standing misperceptions about the relative sizes of landmasses.

Looking ahead, Togo is preparing to submit a comprehensive concept note. This document will outline plans for establishing a dedicated scientific advisory group, which will play a crucial role in overseeing and supporting the effective implementation of the “Correct the Map” resolution. This strategic step by Togo, under the leadership of Robert Dussey, aims to ensure that the global mandate for improved cartography translates into tangible and lasting changes in how the world is perceived and taught.

This article details an international resolution and technical collaboration on map projections, which does not present a direct practical legal or compliance implication for lawyers or compliance officers. It is more relevant to international policy, education, or cartography.

Source: Reporting based on external dispatches.