A specialized agency of the United Nations, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation throughout the world. Today, ICAO has 191 Member States and the organization's key role is to establish standards, recommended practices and guidance materials that ensure aviation safety, security, efficiency and regularity, as well as environmental protection. IATA, as the global airline industry association, has a long history of cooperation with ICAO.