The UN General Assembly voted on Friday on a resolution proposed by Togo for the world to formally abandon the traditional Mercator map in favor of a representation that more accurately shows Africa's actual size. The vote took place on the same day mentioned in the headline, aiming to correct cartographic distortions that have existed for almost five centuries.
Robert Dussey, Togo's Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the resolution had the support of several countries, including the other 54 member states of the African Union. The foreign minister emphasized that the discussion is scientific and not political, since there is scientific evidence demonstrating the inaccuracies of the current map.
Although UN resolutions are not binding, Dussey argued they can serve as guidelines for schools and also influence technology applications, which have historically adopted the Mercator projection. The minister argued that everyone should accept the correct geographic reality.
The Mercator projection system was introduced by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569, with the original purpose of helping sailors in maritime navigation. Almost five centuries later, the international community now debates the need to adopt a more faithful representation of the dimensions of continents.
