UN Adopts New World Map Design

UN Resolution on Global Mapping

• Resolution Details: The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to move away from the Mercator map projection to the 2018 Equal Earth projection, aiming for a more accurate representation of Earth's geography, particularly Africa.
• Voting Outcome: 164 countries voted in favor, with the United States opposing and six countries abstaining. The resolution is non-binding.
• Historical Context: The Mercator projection, introduced in 1569, has been the standard for navigation but has been criticized for distorting the size of landmasses, particularly those closer to the poles.

Technical Aspects of Mapping

• Understanding Projections: Different types of map projections include:
  • Conformal Projections: Preserve angles (e.g., Mercator).
  • Equal-Area Projections: Maintain area proportions (e.g., Equal Earth).
  • Equidistant Projections: Maintain distance.
  • Compromise Projections: Balance various distortions.
• Distortions in Mapping: All flat maps distort at least one property (area, shape, distance, direction) due to the Earth's spheroid shape.

Implications of the Mercator Projection

• Colonial Legacy: The Mercator projection is criticized for perpetuating Western-centric views, contributing to colonial narratives regarding the Global South.
• Impact on Representation: It inflates the size of landmasses such as Greenland and Antarctica while diminishing the perceived scale of developing regions, including South Asia.

Alternatives and Comparisons

• Other Projects: Historical attempts at better projections include:
  • Gall Projection (1855): introduced a new view but faced criticism.
  • Peters Projection (1973): maintained area accuracy but distorted shapes.
  • Robinson Projection (1963) and Winkel Tripel Projection (1921): aimed to reduce distortion across several properties.
• Equal Earth Map (2018):
  • Characteristics: An equal-area projection that better represents landmass sizes, maintaining visual balance.
  • Usage: Advocated for thematic data representation, useful in educational settings and resource distribution analyses.

Current Trends

• Shift in Usage: The World Bank is phasing out Mercator for online maps and adopting the Winkel Tripel or Equal Earth projections. Google Maps allows users to choose between the Mercator projection and 3D views, with the latter remaining the default on mobile apps.

Expert Notes

• Siva Kumar Rachapudi: Emphasizes the importance of accurate area depiction in understanding population density and resource allocation across regions.
• Controversy: Experts express varied opinions about the effectiveness of the Equal Earth map compared to other projections, but all agree on the need for a balanced representation in teaching and research contexts.

This resolution and the shift in mapping practices signify a broader recognition of the need for equitable visual representation of global geography, especially regarding historically marginalized regions.