Key executives of the major US oil companies<\/a> appeared before US lawmakers on Thursday to face allegations of misleading the public about climate change,\u00a0 They were grilled about the impact of fossil fuels and the environmental<\/a> toll they have been taking around the world.<\/p>\n The hearing was the first time oil bosses had answered questions publicly and under oath, with firms such as BP and Shell having to answer some very difficult questions.<\/p>\n During the grilling 6 hour session the executives of Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP and Shell frequently spoke about their efforts to transition to clean energy and denied misleading the public.<\/p>\n The hearing in the House of Representatives Oversight Committee was part of a comprehensive inquiry that Democrats have called historic and said would last a year.<\/p>\n