UN approves use of new changed global map

The United Nations has approved a resolution promoting the use of the “Equal Earth” map projection, which gives a more accurate picture of the size of the world’s continents.

The resolution, led by Togo, was supported by 164 countries, with the United States reportedly the only country to vote against it.

The Equal Earth projection is being promoted as an alternative to the widely used Mercator map, which makes countries and continents near the North and South Poles appear much larger than their actual size.

According to Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, the move was important in ensuring that the world is represented more fairly.

“A fair world begins with a fair map,” Dussey told Reuters ahead of the vote.

Meanwhile,the campaign is also part of wider efforts by African countries to challenge representations of the Global South that they say have been influenced by colonial-era views.