* U.S. giants join OCGI after resisting for years
* Group seeks solutions to lower carbon emissions in sector(Recasts with statement, adds quotes)
By Ron Bousso
LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil, Chevronand Occidental Petroleum are joining a group ofinternational oil and gas giants in an initiative aimed atcurbing carbon emissions in the sector, they said in a statementon Thursday.
The move marks a U-turn for Exxon Mobil and Chevron, the toptwo U.S. oil and gas producers which had resisted joining theOil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) after its launch in 2016.
The OGCI currently comprises 10 firms including BP, RoyalDutch Shell, France's Total as well as national oil companies ofChina, Mexico, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. Together with the newU.S. members, the group will account for around 30 percent ofglobal oil and gas production.
The announcement comes ahead of the Climate Week in New Yorknext week, a global gathering of world and company leadersaround climate change.
"We are pleased to be joining OGCI to work constructively onaddressing the risks of climate change," Chevron Chief ExecutiveOfficer Michael Wirth said in the statement.
The OGCI last year created a $1 billion fund to developtechnologies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in thesector as the world aims to shift towards a low-carbon economy.
Exxon in recent years came under fire from investors andfaced lawsuits over its climate policies and disclosures.
Exxon produced a report in February outlining how global oildemand could drop sharply by 2040 as a result of a growingnumber of electric vehicles, but critics said the report fellshort on areas such as how climate policies could affect companyfinances.
"It will take the collective efforts of many in the energyindustry and society to develop scalable, affordable solutionsthat will be needed to address the risks of climate change,"Exxon CEO Darren Woods said in the statement.
"Our mission is to supply energy for modern life and improveliving standards around the world while minimizing impacts onthe environment. This dual challenge is one of the mostimportant issues facing society and our company."
The news of the U.S. firms' joining was first reported byAxios.(Reporting by Ron Bousso; Editing by Mark Potter and AdrianCroft)