Oil giants to testify before US Congress

Top executives of major Western oil companies are to testify before the US Congress amid accusations that they misled the public about climate change, Report informs referring to the BBC.

The CEOs of Exxon, Chevron and BP America, the president of Shell and the heads of lobby firms the American Petroleum Institute and the US Chamber of Commerce will give evidence.

All four oil giants say they are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and Shell and BP are among a group of companies who wrote to Congressional leaders earlier this month to pledge their support for climate action.

"We are deeply committed to combating climate change and promoting clean and renewable energy and energy efficiency, and... have taken significant steps to reduce emissions and embrace climate-forward business strategies,” the letter said.

Democrat lawmakers say the hearings will focus on the industry's decades-long denial of its products' leading role in fueling climate change.

The companies said they hoped to use the hearings to highlight recent efforts to address climate change.