UN Endorses New Map Projection, Sparking 'Wokery' Debate
Critics decry proposed changes to the world map that would enlarge Africa's representation, while proponents argue for greater accuracy.
Plans to adopt a new world map projection that would depict Africa as significantly larger than on traditional globes have drawn criticism, with opponents labeling the initiative as "wokery." The United Nations supports the shift to a map that more accurately represents the size of continents.
The debate centers on the Mercator projection, a map widely used since the 16th century. This projection, while useful for navigation, distorts the relative sizes of landmasses, making regions near the poles appear much larger than they are. For example, Greenland and Antarctica are depicted as vastly larger than Africa, despite Africa being roughly 14 times the size of Greenland.
Critics argue that promoting a new map is a politically motivated attempt to advance a progressive agenda. However, proponents of the change assert that the goal is simply to present a more truthful and equitable representation of the world's geography.
The UN's endorsement of a new projection, such as the Equal Earth map, aims to correct these historical distortions. This updated representation would give Africa a more proportionate share of the map's surface, reflecting its true land area relative to other continents.