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UN Adopts Equal Earth Map; U.S. Casts Lone Dissenting Vote
The United Nations General Assembly voted 164-1 to adopt the Equal Earth projection as its preferred world map on Friday, September 4, 2026, with the United States the lone country to vote against the measure.[1]
Six nations abstained: Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine.[1] Deputy U.S. representative Yaryna Ferencevych called the initiative part of a "radical ideological project." Fox News Togo's foreign minister described the move as promoting fairer global representation.[1]
The resolution gives UN backing to equal-area map projections while explicitly not requiring states or companies to stop using the Mercator projection.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, September 4, 2026, the UN General Assembly voted 164-1 to adopt the Equal Earth projection as its preferred world map.
- The United States was the only country to vote against the resolution; six nations abstained: Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine.
- Deputy U.S. representative Yaryna Ferencevych called the initiative part of a "radical ideological project," while Togo’s foreign minister framed it as promoting fairer global representation.
- The measure establishes UN backing for equal-area projections but does not require states or companies to stop using the Mercator projection.
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September 05, 2026