‘Still have land to spare’: US was only country to reject UN vote to replace 16th-century world map we know, calling the resolution ‘superfluous’

The version of the world map that we have all grown up with was drawn using the 16th-century Mercator projection. Now, the United Nations General Assembly officially voted to move away from this projection in favor of the more accurate Equal Earth projection. This major shift followed a persistent, African-led campaign to address how the world views the actual size of various continents.

Per CNN, the resolution was brought forward by member states of the African Union alongside the Bahamas. The vote saw overwhelming support, with 164 member states voting in favor, while six countries abstained. Only the United States cast a vote against the resolution, with its representative calling the move “superfluous.” Yaryna Ferencevych, the U.S. deputy representative to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, was extremely critical of the initiative.