diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_test.yml b/.github/workflows/build_test.yml
index f4e5685a4..dfaa9be28 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_test.yml
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ on:
 jobs:
   windows:
     name: Windows memory mapped
-    uses: mapnik/mapnik/.github/workflows/windows.yml@master
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/windows.yml
     with:
-      VCPKG_SHA: 2e34a79a814551424d9b1a981b3b110e0a8fbdfd
+      VCPKG_SHA: f6af75acc923c833a5620943e3fc7d5e4930f0df
       NUGET_REGISTRY: https://nuget.pkg.github.com/mapnik/index.json
       NUGET_USERNAME: mapnik
       USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE: 'ON'
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ jobs:
   
   windows-mmf-off:
     name: Windows file based
-    uses: mapnik/mapnik/.github/workflows/windows.yml@master
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/windows.yml
     with:
-      VCPKG_SHA: 2e34a79a814551424d9b1a981b3b110e0a8fbdfd
+      VCPKG_SHA: f6af75acc923c833a5620943e3fc7d5e4930f0df
       NUGET_REGISTRY: https://nuget.pkg.github.com/mapnik/index.json
       NUGET_USERNAME: mapnik
       USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE: 'OFF'
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ jobs:
 
   ubuntu:
     name: Linux memory mapped
-    uses: mapnik/mapnik/.github/workflows/ubuntu.yml@master
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/ubuntu.yml
     with:
-      VCPKG_SHA: 2e34a79a814551424d9b1a981b3b110e0a8fbdfd
+      VCPKG_SHA: f6af75acc923c833a5620943e3fc7d5e4930f0df
       NUGET_REGISTRY: https://nuget.pkg.github.com/mapnik/index.json
       NUGET_USERNAME: mapnik
       USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE: 'ON'
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ jobs:
 
   ubuntu-mmf-off:
     name: Linux file based
-    uses: mapnik/mapnik/.github/workflows/ubuntu.yml@master
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/ubuntu.yml
     with:
-      VCPKG_SHA: 2e34a79a814551424d9b1a981b3b110e0a8fbdfd
+      VCPKG_SHA: f6af75acc923c833a5620943e3fc7d5e4930f0df
       NUGET_REGISTRY: https://nuget.pkg.github.com/mapnik/index.json
       NUGET_USERNAME: mapnik
       USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE: 'OFF'
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ jobs:
 
   macos:
     name: MacOS memory mapped
-    uses: mapnik/mapnik/.github/workflows/macos.yml@master
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/macos.yml
     with:
-      VCPKG_SHA: 2e34a79a814551424d9b1a981b3b110e0a8fbdfd
+      VCPKG_SHA: f6af75acc923c833a5620943e3fc7d5e4930f0df
       NUGET_REGISTRY: https://nuget.pkg.github.com/mapnik/index.json
       NUGET_USERNAME: mapnik
       USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE: 'ON'
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ jobs:
 
   macos-mmf-off:
     name: MacOS file based
-    uses: mapnik/mapnik/.github/workflows/macos.yml@master
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/macos.yml
     with:
-      VCPKG_SHA: 2e34a79a814551424d9b1a981b3b110e0a8fbdfd
+      VCPKG_SHA: f6af75acc923c833a5620943e3fc7d5e4930f0df
       NUGET_REGISTRY: https://nuget.pkg.github.com/mapnik/index.json
       NUGET_USERNAME: mapnik
       USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE: 'OFF'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/macos.yml b/.github/workflows/macos.yml
index a9dbd5fb1..092d10c45 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/macos.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/macos.yml
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ jobs:
           brew install automake ninja lcov
 
       - name: checkout mapnik
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
           submodules: "recursive"
 
       - name: checkout vcpkg
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
           repository: "microsoft/vcpkg"
           ref: ${{ inputs.VCPKG_SHA }}
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ jobs:
           setapikey "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" -Source "${{ inputs.NUGET_REGISTRY }}"
 
       - name: Configure CMake
-        run: cmake -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=./vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake -DUSE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE=${{ inputs.USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE }} --preset=${{ env.preset }}
+        run: cmake -DUSE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE=${{ inputs.USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE }} --preset=${{ env.preset }}
 
       - name: Build
         run: cmake --build --preset ${{ env.preset }}
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ jobs:
         continue-on-error: true
         working-directory: build/${{ env.preset }}/out
         env:
-          PROJ_LIB: ${{ github.workspace }}/build/${{ env.preset }}/vcpkg_installed/x64-osx/share/proj4
+          PROJ_LIB: ${{ github.workspace }}/build/${{ env.preset }}/vcpkg_installed/x64-osx/share/proj/data
         run: ./mapnik-test-visual -j $(sysctl -n hw.logicalcpu) --output-dir ./visual-test-result
 
       - name: Pack visual test results
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run Benchmark
         working-directory: build/${{ env.preset }}/out
         env:
-          PROJ_LIB: ${{ github.workspace }}/build/${{ env.preset }}/vcpkg_installed/x64-osx/share/proj4
+          PROJ_LIB: ${{ github.workspace }}/build/${{ env.preset }}/vcpkg_installed/x64-osx/share/proj/data
         run: ./run_benchmarks
 
       - name: Coverage
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ jobs:
         run: cmake --build --preset ${{ env.preset }} --target package
 
       - name: Upload mapnik build artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
         if: failure()
         with:
           name: ${{ env.preset }}-mmio-${{ inputs.USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE }}
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ jobs:
           retention-days: 2
 
       - name: Upload visual test results
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
         with:
           name: ${{ env.preset }}-visual-tests-mmio-${{ inputs.USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE }}
           path: build/${{ env.preset }}/out/visual-test-results.tar.gz
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ubuntu.yml b/.github/workflows/ubuntu.yml
index 6f17ccdfb..7035afda7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ubuntu.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ubuntu.yml
@@ -51,12 +51,12 @@ jobs:
           sudo apt-get install -y gperf libxxf86vm-dev ninja-build postgresql-client lcov
 
       - name: checkout mapnik
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
           submodules: "recursive"
 
       - name: checkout vcpkg
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
           repository: "microsoft/vcpkg"
           ref: ${{ inputs.VCPKG_SHA }}
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ jobs:
           setapikey "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" -Source "${{ inputs.NUGET_REGISTRY }}"
 
       - name: Configure CMake
-        run: cmake -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=./vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake -DUSE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE=${{ inputs.USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE }} --preset=${{ env.preset }}
+        run: cmake -DUSE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE=${{ inputs.USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE }} --preset=${{ env.preset }}
 
       - name: Build
         run: cmake --build --preset ${{ env.preset }}
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ jobs:
         continue-on-error: true
         working-directory: build/${{ env.preset }}/out
         env:
-          PROJ_LIB: ${{ github.workspace }}/build/${{ env.preset }}/vcpkg_installed/x64-linux/share/proj4
+          PROJ_LIB: ${{ github.workspace }}/build/${{ env.preset }}/vcpkg_installed/x64-linux/share/proj/data
         run: ./mapnik-test-visual -j $(nproc) --output-dir ./visual-test-result
 
       - name: Pack visual test results
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run Benchmarks
         working-directory: build/${{ env.preset }}/out
         env:
-          PROJ_LIB: ${{ github.workspace }}/build/${{ env.preset }}/vcpkg_installed/x64-linux/share/proj4
+          PROJ_LIB: ${{ github.workspace }}/build/${{ env.preset }}/vcpkg_installed/x64-linux/share/proj/data
         run: ./run_benchmarks
 
       - name: Coverage
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ jobs:
         run: cmake --build --preset ${{ env.preset }} --target package
 
       - name: Upload mapnik build artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
         if: failure()
         with:
           name: ${{ env.preset }}-artifact-mmio-${{ inputs.USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE }}
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ jobs:
           retention-days: 2
 
       - name: Upload visual test results
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
         with:
           name: ${{ env.preset }}-visual-tests-mmio-${{ inputs.USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE }}
           path: build/${{ env.preset }}/out/visual-test-results.tar.gz
diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows.yml b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
index 20a63565c..2ad229ddf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
@@ -38,12 +38,12 @@ jobs:
       - uses: ilammy/msvc-dev-cmd@v1
 
       - name: checkout mapnik
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
           submodules: "recursive"
 
       - name: checkout vcpkg
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
           repository: "microsoft/vcpkg"
           ref: ${{ inputs.VCPKG_SHA }}
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ jobs:
           setapikey "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" -Source "${{ inputs.NUGET_REGISTRY }}"
 
       - name: Configure CMake
-        run: cmake -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=${{ github.workspace }}/vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake -DUSE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE=${{ inputs.USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE }} --preset ${{env.preset}}
+        run: cmake -DUSE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE=${{ inputs.USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE }} --preset ${{env.preset}}
 
       - name: Build
         run: cmake --build --preset ${{env.preset}}
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ jobs:
         continue-on-error: true
         working-directory: build/${{ env.preset }}/out
         env:
-          PROJ_LIB: ${{ github.workspace }}/build/${{ env.preset }}/vcpkg_installed/x64-windows/share/proj4
+          PROJ_LIB: ${{ github.workspace }}/build/${{ env.preset }}/vcpkg_installed/x64-windows/share/proj/data
         run: OpenCppCoverage --modules *libmapnik* --modules mapnik*.exe  --modules *.input --sources ${{ github.workspace }} --export_type binary --input_coverage=${{ github.workspace }}/ctest.cov --cover_children -- .\mapnik-test-visual.exe -j (Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_ComputerSystem).NumberOfLogicalProcessors --output-dir ./visual-test-result
 
       - name: Pack visual test results
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ jobs:
         if: failure()
         run: cmake --build --preset ${{env.preset}} --target package
 
-      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
         if: failure()
         with:
           name: ${{ env.preset }}-artifact-mmio-${{ inputs.USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE }}
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ jobs:
           retention-days: 2
 
       - name: Upload visual test results
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
         with:
           name: ${{ env.preset }}-visual-tests-mmio-${{ inputs.USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE }}
           path: build/${{ env.preset }}/out/visual-test-results.tar.gz
diff --git a/CMakePresets.json b/CMakePresets.json
index 46720854c..61a84d330 100644
--- a/CMakePresets.json
+++ b/CMakePresets.json
@@ -179,7 +179,8 @@
             "hidden": true,
             "cacheVariables": {
                 "BUILD_TESTING": "ON",
-                "BUILD_DEMO_VIEWER": "OFF"
+                "BUILD_DEMO_VIEWER": "OFF",
+                "CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE": "vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake"
             }
         },
         {
@@ -194,7 +195,7 @@
                 "ADDITIONAL_LIBARIES_PATHS": "${sourceDir}/build/${presetName}/vcpkg_installed/x64-windows/bin"
             },
             "environment": {
-                "PROJ_LIB": "${sourceDir}/build/${presetName}/vcpkg_installed/x64-windows/share/proj4"
+                "PROJ_LIB": "${sourceDir}/build/${presetName}/vcpkg_installed/x64-windows/share/proj/data"
             }
         },
         {
@@ -209,7 +210,7 @@
                 "CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS": "--coverage"
             },
             "environment": {
-                "PROJ_LIB": "${sourceDir}/build/${presetName}/vcpkg_installed/x64-linux/share/proj4"
+                "PROJ_LIB": "${sourceDir}/build/${presetName}/vcpkg_installed/x64-linux/share/proj/data"
             }
         },
         {
@@ -225,7 +226,7 @@
                 "CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS": "-fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage"
             },
             "environment": {
-                "PROJ_LIB": "${sourceDir}/build/${presetName}/vcpkg_installed/x64-osx/share/proj4"
+                "PROJ_LIB": "${sourceDir}/build/${presetName}/vcpkg_installed/x64-osx/share/proj/data"
             }
         }
     ],
diff --git a/src/proj_transform.cpp b/src/proj_transform.cpp
index 51ef2032c..624e9147a 100644
--- a/src/proj_transform.cpp
+++ b/src/proj_transform.cpp
@@ -124,17 +124,28 @@ proj_transform::proj_transform(projection const& source, projection const& dest)
         {
 #ifdef MAPNIK_USE_PROJ
             ctx_ = proj_context_create();
+            proj_log_level(ctx_, PJ_LOG_ERROR);
             transform_ = proj_create_crs_to_crs(ctx_, source.params().c_str(), dest.params().c_str(), nullptr);
             if (transform_ == nullptr)
             {
-                throw std::runtime_error(std::string("Cannot initialize proj_transform for given projections: '") +
-                                         source.params() + "'->'" + dest.params() + "'");
+                throw std::runtime_error(std::string("Cannot initialize proj_transform  (crs_to_crs) for given projections: '") +
+                                         source.params() + "'->'" + dest.params() +
+#if MAPNIK_PROJ_VERSION >= 80000
+                                         "' because of " + std::string(proj_context_errno_string(ctx_, proj_context_errno(ctx_))));
+#else
+                                         "'");
+#endif
             }
             PJ* transform_gis = proj_normalize_for_visualization(ctx_, transform_);
             if (transform_gis == nullptr)
             {
-                throw std::runtime_error(std::string("Cannot initialize proj_transform for given projections: '") +
-                                         source.params() + "'->'" + dest.params() + "'");
+                throw std::runtime_error(std::string("Cannot initialize proj_transform (normalize) for given projections: '") +
+                                         source.params() + "'->'" + dest.params() +
+#if MAPNIK_PROJ_VERSION >= 80000
+                                         "' because of " + std::string(proj_context_errno_string(ctx_, proj_context_errno(ctx_))));
+#else
+                                         "'");
+#endif
             }
             proj_destroy(transform_);
             transform_ = transform_gis;
diff --git a/test/unit/renderer/cairo_io.cpp b/test/unit/renderer/cairo_io.cpp
index c3b739404..4f95f0d49 100644
--- a/test/unit/renderer/cairo_io.cpp
+++ b/test/unit/renderer/cairo_io.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_POP
 #include <fstream>
 
 #if defined(HAVE_CAIRO)
+#include <cairo-version.h>
+
+// see https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/cairo/cairo/-/issues/553
+// TLDR: cairo has removed the writing of the svg version in cairo 1.17.6
+#if (CAIRO_VERSION_MAJOR <= 1) && (CAIRO_VERSION_MINOR <= 17) && (CAIRO_VERSION_MICRO < 6)
 TEST_CASE("cairo_io")
 {
     SECTION("save_to_cairo_file - SVG")
@@ -33,3 +38,4 @@ TEST_CASE("cairo_io")
     }
 }
 #endif
+#endif
diff --git a/vcpkg.json b/vcpkg.json
index 3f5afdbc7..1bc58e8c3 100644
--- a/vcpkg.json
+++ b/vcpkg.json
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
     "mapbox-geometry",
     "mapbox-polylabel",
     "mapbox-variant",
-    "proj4",
+    "proj",
     "protozero",
     {
       "name": "sqlite3",