Summary (tl;dr)

The "Equal Earth map" is trending after the United Nations General Assembly officially adopted a resolution encouraging its use to replace the centuries-old Mercator projection, aiming to more accurately represent the true sizes of continents like Africa. This move is part of a global "Correct the Map" campaign advocating for a less distorted view of the world.

Essential Background

For over 450 years, the Mercator projection, created in the 16th century by Gerardus Mercator, has been the standard for world maps, particularly for navigation due to its ability to show true compass bearings. However, a significant drawback of the Mercator map is its severe distortion of landmass sizes, especially at higher latitudes, making regions near the poles appear much larger than they are, while shrinking continents near the equator. This distortion famously makes Greenland appear similar in size to Africa, even though Africa is approximately 14 times larger.

The Full Story

The Equal Earth map projection, an equal-area pseudocylindrical map, was invented in 2018 by cartographers Bojan Šavrič, Bernhard Jenny, and Tom Patterson. It was developed as a visually appealing alternative to other equal-area projections, offering a more accurate representation of continents' relative sizes while maintaining a shape similar to the popular Robinson projection.

The map is trending now because, on September 4, 2026, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, sponsored by Togo and backed by the African Union and the Caribbean Community, to promote the Equal Earth projection. This resolution encourages its wider adoption in educational and technological applications, signaling a potential shift away from the Mercator projection. The "Correct the Map" campaign, led by African advocacy groups, has been instrumental in raising awareness about the Mercator map's inaccuracies and advocating for the Equal Earth projection as a means to "decolonize" global perceptions and accurately represent Africa's true scale.

Why It Matters

The adoption of the Equal Earth map by the UN General Assembly is significant because maps are not merely tools but shape our understanding of geopolitics, geography, and global relationships. The long-standing use of the Mercator projection has been criticized for perpetuating a "colonial lens" by visually exaggerating and centralizing Western nations, potentially impacting perceptions of power and development. By promoting a map that accurately depicts the relative sizes of all landmasses, especially correcting the diminished appearance of Africa, the resolution aims to foster a more equitable and accurate worldview. This move is expected to influence school curricula and technology, leading to a more truthful representation of the world in education and public understanding.

Geographic Location

• United Nations General Assembly, New York City, New York, United States (adoption of resolution to promote Equal Earth map)
• Lomé, Togo (sponsored the UN resolution)
• Dakar, Senegal (African advocacy groups launched "Correct The Map" campaign)