Popular navigation apps unlikely to ditch Mercator maps despite UN resolution
UN-backed Equal Earth map has educational value but won’t alter navigation apps.
On September 4, a recently passed United Nations resolution aimed at promoting more accurate world maps that better represent the true sizes of continents garnered overwhelming support from member countries. The African-led proposal received 164 votes in favor, with six countries abstaining and only the United States opposing the resolution, deeming it a "radical ideological project."
The resolution, while non-binding, encourages governments, schools, international organizations, and technology companies to adopt equal-area maps, such as the Equal Earth projection, when the relative size of landmasses is important. It also advocates for educating people about the inherent trade-offs associated with representing a spherical Earth on a flat map.
Despite the UN's call to action, the widespread use of 16th-century Mercator maps in popular navigation apps remains largely unaffected by the resolution.
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