UN General Assembly Backs Equal Earth Map, With U.S. Casting Lone No Vote
On Friday, September 4, 2026, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution endorsing the Equal Earth world map to correct continental-size distortions, with the United States the only country to vote against it.[1]
The vote was 164 in favor, one against and six abstentions — Serbia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine.[1] Togo led the proposal, and Togo's foreign minister, Robert Dussey, told the Assembly that "maps shape our understanding of the world." CBS News The resolution's text is titled "Correct the Map." MS NOW It urges governments and institutions to replace the traditional Mercator projection with the Equal Earth projection but does not ban the Mercator map.[1] U.S. representative Yaryna Ferencevych said the initiative was part of a "much larger and more radical ideological project." MS NOW
The Mercator projection was created for navigation and critics say it enlarges areas near the poles, making Africa look smaller than it actually is.[1] Geographers such as Mark Monmonier argue Mercator has little use outside navigation, and campaigners including Africa No Filter urged accurate maps be used in schools, textbooks, newsrooms and online platforms.[1] Ukraine said it abstained because it disagreed with how the new map reflects Russian territory.[2]
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot welcomed the decision as "an act of truth," and backers say the resolution is largely symbolic but could shape education and media practices if countries and institutions adopt the Equal Earth projection.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, September 4, 2026, the UN General Assembly passed the resolution titled "Correct the Map", endorsing the Equal Earth world map to correct continental-size distortions (Correct the Map).
- The vote tally was 164 in favor, one against (the United States) and six abstentions — Serbia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine (164 votes in favor).
- The resolution encourages governments and institutions to replace the traditional Mercator projection with the Equal Earth projection but does not ban Mercator or impose a binding replacement (replace the traditional Mercator projection with the Equal Earth projection).
- Togo led the proposal, and Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey told the Assembly that "maps shape our understanding of the world" (Robert Dussey).
- Africa No Filter, identified as a lead campaigner for the change, urged accurate maps be used in schools, textbooks, newsrooms, businesses and digital platforms (Africa No Filter).
- U.S. representative Yaryna Ferencevych described the initiative as part of a "much larger and more radical ideological project," explaining the U.S. vote against the resolution (Yaryna Ferencevych).
- Ukraine said it abstained because it disagreed with how the new map reflects Russian territory (Ukraine).
- Coverage notes the Mercator projection was designed for navigation, and geographers such as Mark Monmonier argue it has little use outside that narrow application (Mercator projection).
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- CBS News video segment states that the United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt a new map that more accurately depicts Africa's size.
- The segment reiterates that the United States was the only country to vote against the map, while six other countries abstained.
- Article text does not add new dates, vote counts, or additional countries beyond what was already reported in earlier CBS text coverage.
- On Friday, September 4, 2026, the UN General Assembly passed the Equal Earth map resolution with 164 votes in favor, only the United States voting against, and six abstentions by Serbia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, and Ukraine.
- The resolution explicitly encourages governments and institutions to replace the traditional Mercator projection with the Equal Earth projection but does not ban Mercator or impose a binding replacement.
- Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey told the Assembly that 'maps shape our understanding of the world' and influence education and collective perceptions.
- Africa No Filter, identified as a lead campaigner for the change, called for accurate maps to be used in schools, textbooks, newsrooms, businesses, and digital platforms.
- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot publicly welcomed the resolution on X, saying that correcting distorted representations is 'already an act of truth.'
- The article notes that the Mercator projection was designed for navigation and that geographers such as Syracuse University professor Mark Monmonier argue it has little use outside that narrow application.
- Article states the resolution is titled "Correct the Map" and describes it as officially phasing out the standard Mercator map in favor of a new world map.
- It reiterates the General Assembly vote tally as 164 in favor, one against (the U.S.), and six abstentions, consistent with prior reporting.
- It quotes U.S. representative Yaryna Ferencevych calling the initiative part of a "much larger and more radical ideological project," expanding on U.S. reasoning for the dissent.
- The article notes Togo led the proposal and frames it as correcting distortions of Africa's and other regions' sizes on the Mercator projection.
- It reports that Ukraine explained its abstention by saying it disagreed with how the new map reflects Russian territory.