Climate change will be the main topic of conversation at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) assembly.

This is according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In June, it held its annual general meeting where the majority of its member airlines approved a resolution calling on governments to agree on a mandatory carbon offset scheme. It wants this market based measure (MBM) to be applied worldwide.

Director general and chief executive officer at IATA Tony Tyler said: "We will be looking to states to make decisions that will enable the industry to meet its ambitious commitment to stabilising its emissions from 2020 via carbon-neutral growth (CNG2020)."

IATA has created a working paper alongside the Airports Council International, the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization, the International Business Aviation Council and the International Coordinating Committee of Aerospace Industry Associations.

These five groups will further encourage the assembly to develop the singular MBM. This will include creating steps towards this before 2020 and including the goals outlined in CNG2020.