The United Nations has officially backed the 2018 Equal Earth map, moving away from the centuries-old Mercator projection to promote a more accurate representation of global landmasses. This resolution, supported by 164 nations including India, aims to rectify significant distortions, especially regarding the visual size of Africa and other equatorial regions.
Understanding Mercator's Distortions
Developed by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, the Mercator projection was instrumental for maritime navigation, accurately preserving directions for sailors plotting straight-line courses. However, this accuracy came at a significant cost: distorted landmass sizes. Regions closer to the poles, such as Canada, Russia, and Europe, appear disproportionately large, while areas near the Equator are visually diminished.
A striking example of this distortion is the comparison between Greenland and Africa. On a Mercator map, Greenland often appears similar in size to Africa. In reality, Africa is approximately 14 times larger than Greenland, a fact obscured by the traditional projection.
The Equal Earth Solution
The Equal Earth projection, crafted by an international team of cartographers in 2018, specifically addresses these area distortions. As an equal-area projection, it accurately portrays the relative sizes of continents. Consequently, Africa appears substantially larger in relation to Europe, North America, and Greenland than on a Mercator map, providing a more balanced visual perspective of the globe.
It is important to note that no flat map can perfectly represent a three-dimensional sphere without some trade-offs. While Equal Earth prioritizes accurate land areas, it may introduce distortions in shapes and distances, particularly towards the poles.
Significance Beyond Cartography
The shift away from Mercator is more than a technical cartographic adjustment; it carries significant cultural and geopolitical implications. Critics argue that Mercator's visual enlargement of northern, typically Western, regions and the shrinking of equatorial regions have inadvertently reinforced Western-centric worldviews, a phenomenon some activists term “cartographic colonialism.”
The #CorrectTheMap campaign, championed by the African Union and led by Togo, has been a key driver behind this change. Supporters believe that promoting the Equal Earth projection can help challenge ingrained perceptions of Africa's importance and contribute to a more inclusive global curriculum.
What Changes Now?
The UN resolution is not legally binding, meaning countries, educational institutions, and technology platforms are not mandated to abandon the Mercator projection immediately. However, the decision is expected to encourage a gradual transition in textbooks, classroom maps, digital platforms, and official cartography worldwide.
Some entities have already begun this transition. Google Maps, for instance, switched its desktop version to a 3D globe in 2018, though Mercator remains the default on its mobile app. The World Bank utilizes Winkel Tripel or Equal Earth for its static maps, and France has indicated a move towards the Eckert IV projection. Togo is also engaging with UNESCO, the African Union, and major tech companies like Google Maps to facilitate the widespread implementation of the resolution.
Ultimately, the UN's decision marks a significant step towards a more visually accurate understanding of our planet's land areas, acknowledging the inherent compromises in representing a spherical Earth on a flat surface.