Are we using the wrong world map? - What in the World podcast, BBC World Service

Key Concepts:

• Mercator projection: A map projection designed in 1569 primarily for sea navigation, known for distorting the size of landmasses, particularly exaggerating the size of Europe and Greenland while shrinking Africa and South America.
• Equal Earth map: An alternative map projection that accurately represents the relative sizes of continents, aiming to correct the distortions of the Mercator projection.
• Correct The Map campaign: A campaign led by organizations like Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, advocating for the adoption of the Equal Earth map in schools, governments, and international organizations.
• Winkel tripel map: Another map projection that addresses some of the size distortions of the Mercator projection, used by organizations like the World Bank and National Geographic Society.
• Map Projections: Different ways to represent the Earth's spherical surface on a flat plane, each with its own distortions and advantages for specific purposes.

1. The Problem with the Mercator Projection

• The Mercator projection, created in 1569, distorts the size of continents, making Europe and Greenland appear larger while shrinking Africa and South America.
• This distortion is not just a geographical inaccuracy but has implications for how the world perceives these regions.
• Example: Greenland is depicted as 14 times larger than it actually is on Mercator projections.
• Quote from Moky Makura, executive director of Africa No Filter: "The distortion matters because it literally shrinks Africa's power and our place in the world."
• The Mercator projection makes Africa look "less important, less powerful, and less full of potential" because it appears smaller than European countries, even though you can fit all of Europe, China, India, and America into the continent.

2. The Correct The Map Campaign and the Equal Earth Map

• The Correct The Map campaign, backed by the African Union, advocates for the adoption of the Equal Earth map to accurately represent the size of continents.
• Organizations like Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa are at the forefront of this campaign.
• The campaign aims to replace the Mercator projection in schools, global organizations, and government institutions.
• Moky Makura wants to see the Equal Earth projection used "everywhere...in school textbooks, online, on Google Maps, in PowerPoint templates, in Canva templates."

3. The History and Purpose of the Mercator Projection

• The Mercator projection was designed for sea navigation, where compass courses appear as straight lines.
• Edwin Rijkaart (Geodiode) explains that Gerardus Mercator (Geert de Kremer) created the map to make navigation easier for sailors in the 16th century.
• The Mercator projection allowed sailors to easily navigate with a compass, as all lines pointed north, east, south, or west, and distances on the lines were consistent.
• The problem arose when the Mercator projection became widely used in other contexts, such as general world maps and online navigation apps like Google Maps.
• It's impossible to create a perfect flat map of a sphere without distortion, leading to various map projections for different purposes.

4. The Rise of Social Media and Renewed Criticism

• The increased use of social media and media advancement has amplified conversations about the inaccuracies of the Mercator projection.
• Organizations like Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa have effectively used social media and traditional media to push their agenda.
• These platforms have allowed smaller conversations to converge and gain global attention.

5. Adoption of Alternative Map Projections

• The African Union has endorsed the Correct The Map campaign.
• The World Bank has stopped using the Mercator projection and adopted the Winkel tripel map.
• The National Geographic Society also uses the Winkel tripel map instead of the Mercator projection.
• Google on desktop now uses a 3D model of a map and has dropped the Mercator projection, although users can still switch back.
• Google still uses the Mercator projection on mobile.

6. Wider Implications of Map Distortions

• Inaccurate maps can affect people's identity, self-perception, and policies.
• Example: Referring to a country as "tiny" can minimize the perceived importance of that country and affect aid or project investments.
• Visual representation affects perception, leading to physical, economic, and psychological impacts.
• Campaigners argue that the Mercator projection has negatively affected policies towards Africa and how Africans feel about themselves.

7. Conclusion

The debate over the Mercator projection highlights the importance of accurate representation and its impact on perception and policy. The Correct The Map campaign, advocating for the Equal Earth map, aims to address the distortions of the Mercator projection and promote a more equitable view of the world. While the Mercator projection served its purpose for navigation, its continued use in general contexts perpetuates a skewed view of the relative sizes and importance of different regions, particularly Africa. The adoption of alternative map projections by organizations like the World Bank and National Geographic Society signals a shift towards more accurate and equitable representations of the world.