LONDON, April 10 (Reuters) - Climate activist

shareholder group Follow This said on Thursday a lack of

investor appetite has forced it to suspend its nearly

decade-long campaign seeking stronger commitments from major oil

and gas producers to emission cuts.

The Dutch group started filing climate resolutions at

shareholder meetings in 2016, reaching shareholder support in

subsequent years of 80% at Phillips 66, 60% at Chevron ( CVX ),

around a third at Exxon and Shell and a fifth

at BP.

However, a surge in oil and gas prices triggered by Russia's

invasion of Ukraine and lower-than-expected returns from

investments in renewable energy have shifted shareholders' focus

back to more profitable oil and gas.

BP, Shell and Equinor ( EQNR ), among other companies, have

rolled back their energy transition ambitions in recent months.

"Institutional investors are reluctant to use their voting

power," Follow This founder Mark van Baal said.

Exxon last year sued Follow This and Arjuna Capital after they

filed a climate-related resolution. A judge ultimately dismissed

the suit, but only after the defendants withdrew their

resolution and promised not to resubmit a similar one or help

others do so.

"Follow This talks with supportive investors about

reassessing strategies and addressing these barriers, exploring

what is preventing other investors... from casting their votes,

despite their stated commitments," van Baal said.