UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa's true size
Saturday, 5 September 2026
Warm-up
- What world map did you see most often at school?
- How can a map shape your view of a place?
- When should international bodies change long-used standards?
Vocabulary
- resolution
- an official decision made by a group after a vote
- projection
- a method for drawing the round Earth on a flat map
- cartographer
- a person whose job is to make maps
- distortion
- a change that makes something look different from its true size or shape
- non-binding
- not legally required to follow, so it is optional
- abstention
- a choice to neither support nor oppose in a vote
- equator
- the line around the middle of the Earth, equal distance from both poles
- perception
- the way people understand or think about something
Reading
The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution to replace the traditional world map with one that better reflects Africa's true size. The Togo-sponsored move won support from 164 nations, including France and the UK, while the United States voted against and there were six abstentions. The decision is non-binding, but UN agencies and other institutions are expected to update maps.
Supporters criticise the Mercator projection, designed in 1569 by the cartographer Gerardus Mercator, for distortion. It shows Africa as similar to Greenland, although Africa is about 14 times larger. Because any flat map is a compromise, places near the equator look smaller and regions near the poles appear bigger.
An alternative, the Equal Earth projection, was created in 2018. The African Union, which has 54 members, adopted it in February. Togo's foreign minister Robert Dussey, who urged change, and France's Jean-Noël Barrot say maps shape perception. The US representative Yaryna Ferencevych argued the Assembly should focus on other global priorities.
Comprehension
- How many nations supported the Togo-sponsored move, and who voted against it?
- Why do supporters criticise the Mercator projection?
- What is expected to happen even though the vote is non-binding?
- Which alternative projection is named, and who adopted it in February?
- Which officials backed change, and who argued against the focus of the debate?
Grammar focus
Relative clauses (non-defining)
Non-defining relative clauses add extra information about a person or thing. They are set off with commas and use who (for people) or which (for things). Read the sentence without the clause — it should still make sense.
- The African Union, **which has 54 members,** adopted it in February.
- Togo's foreign minister Robert Dussey, **who urged change,** and France's Jean-Noël Barrot say maps shape perception.
Grammar exercise
Circle the correct option in each sentence.
- Cartographers, (who / that) design projections, compare areas.
- Greenland, (that / which) appears large, draws attention.
- Scientists, (who / that) measure distortion, publish studies.
- The proposal, (which / that) aims for equal-area maps, moved forward.
- Regions, (that / which) lie near the poles, look larger.
Discussion
- Should global bodies switch maps quickly or phase changes in? Why?
- Do map distortions influence investment or aid decisions? How?
- For students, what matters most on maps: size, shape, or direction?
- How should schools explain that every world map has trade-offs?
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