UN adopts proposal for new world map showing Africa’s true size

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution to use a new world map, known as the Equal Earth projection. This map aims to accurately represent the size of continents, correcting distortions present in the widely used Mercator projection. According to ABC News AU, the Mercator projection makes North America, Europe, and Greenland appear larger than they are, while Africa, Latin America, and Oceania appear smaller.

The resolution, spearheaded by several African countries, was supported by 164 countries, with the US voting against it and six other states abstaining. The new map is intended to provide a more accurate representation of continental landmasses. As People Daily Kenya notes, the Mercator projection, developed in 1569, exaggerates the size of landmasses farther from the equator, with Africa appearing similar in size to Greenland, when in fact it has roughly 14 times Greenland's land area.

The resolution encourages governments, schools, international organisations, and technology companies to consider using projections like the Equal Earth projection, which preserves the relative area of continents. The adoption of this new map is not legally binding, and countries are not required to abandon the Mercator projection.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch, ABC News AU, Punch Nigeria, People Daily Kenya, South China Morning Post — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.