Sydney - Australia's top climate change adviser said Friday the nation's greenhouse gas emissions should be cut by 10 per cent of 2000 levels by 2020.

Economist Ross Garnaut said even that modest cut depended on a global agreement being thrashed out before 2013 when the Kyoto Protocol has run its course.

"My aim is to nurture the splendid chance that humanity can get it all together," Professor Garnaut said.

Without a global agreement on targets to limit emissions, Australia should only commit to a cut of 5 per cent, he said. (dpa)