An expert should be appointed to advise the leaders of an independent Scottish Government how to responsibly use fossil fuel resources.
The suggestion was made by the Green Party which is concerned about the drive to extract every last drop of North Sea oil.
Co-convener Patrick Harvie said campaigners on both sides of the independence debate must prove they understand the “serious climate implications”.
Economists and energy experts have warned that if fossil fuels already listed on the world’s capital markets are burned, a carbon emissions budget designed to limit dangerous global warming will be breached.
Former NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies boss and renowned climate scientist Professor James Hansen said encouraging fossil fuel companies to go after every conceivable fuel was an “obtuse policy” that ignored the implications for future generations and nature.
He claimed it could “determine the fate of humanity”.
Mr Harvie, said: “While the SNP and the pro-UK parties fight over who’s the best supporter of North Sea oil extraction, those of us who genuinely care about the future understand it is a resource to be conserved and used wisely rather than plundered and to hell with the consequences.
“Those of us who are pro-independence but not nationalists understand that undecided voters are unlikely to be motivated by the promise of more of the same.
“The Scottish Government should commit that in the event of a Yes vote it will establish an independent advisor on fossil fuels to work out what the responsible use of our resources would look like.”
Mr Harvie said the Scottish Government could show leadership by making companies report the emissions potential of their oil and gas reserves.
A government spokeswoman said: “We are committed to using the country’s resources safely, securely and in the long term interests of Scotland and regularly receives advice on carbon emissions from the independent Committee on Climate Change.”
She added that the country was already more than halfway to meeting its 2020 target of reducing emissions by 42% and continued to lead the way on the issue in Europe.
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