The heat has been on for some time, with climate activists wanting big corporations to do more.

Now, industry titans from various sectors are teaming up.

Microsoft, Nike, Starbucks, Unilever and five other industry heavyweights want to help businesses globally achieve zero carbon emissions.

The plan announced on Tuesday (July 21) is called "Transform to Net Zero."

The group wants to recruit other members and will work with the Environmental Defense Fund, a not-for-profit environmental group.

The focus will be on delivering guidance, research and blueprints for businesses to achieve zero carbon emissions no later than 2050.

The announcement gave no details of any investment the companies would make.

Instead it outlined only initial research and other work to be completed over the next five years.

The alliance also includes French food group Danone, German automaker Mercedes-Benz, and top shipping container firm Maersk.

Critics say action by the corporate world still falls far short of the sort of far-reaching change needed to meet UN targets on emissions.

Microsoft in January announced plans to be carbon negative, pledging to remove as much carbon as it has emitted in its 45-year history.