WASHINGTON (Reuters] – Thursday’s U.S. Congress hearing will begin a year of investigation into Big Oil and its involvement in climate change. Democratic lawmakers plan to interview the tops of four major oil companies, as well two lobby groups.

The hearing will be a chance for environmental groups to reminisce about the Big Tobacco hearings in the 1990s that prompted a change of public opinion. Representatives from the energy industry plan to concentrate on their support for climate action.

In an interview, Ro Khanna (chair of the Environment Subcommittee) stated that “the narrative is simple” and said, “They know they lied, they continue to deceive.” It will be Big Tobacco’s moment, if they can prove that.

Khanna and Carolyn Maloney will both be leading the hearings together.

This will mark the debut of top executives from the major oil companies – ExxonMobil, Shell Oil (LON Oil), BP Oil (NYSE Oil) America. Chevron (NYSE: ) – The American Petroleum Institute’s and Chamber of Commerce heads will be answering questions regarding climate change at Congress, under oath.

James Comer (top Republican) will argue that the panel needs to address inflation and high prices for energy. He believes these are due to President Joe Biden’s policies, as per written testimony which did not mention climate change.

Republicans asked Neal Crabtree (a worker who lost work after Biden canceled Keystone XL) to testify before the panel.

A report by the United Nations this summer warned that global temperatures will rise to or exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degree F) threshold without immediate, large-scale and urgent action to curb emissions.

Prepared testimony indicates that BP America’s CEO David Lawler, and Shell Oil’s Chief Executive Officer Gretchen Watkins will discuss how they recognized the need to address climate change as a concern in the 1990s.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE: CEO Darren Woods) will state that his company “responded appropriately” to the scientific community’s understanding about climate change. He also stated that oil and natural gas are still needed in order to supply growing energy demands.

The energy industry is also expected to argue that more time will be needed to transition to cleaner energy.

Suzanne Clark will be the Chamber’s president and chief executive officer. According to John Kerry’s written testimony, half the emission cuts required to reach net zero would come from technology that is still being developed.