A Senate committee has pushed for a more integrated approach to tackling climate change and its wide-ranging threats to national security.

The committee’s report calls for a white paper on the matter, more federal funding for research and a dedicated leadership position in the Home Affairs Department.

“Evidence suggested a white paper specifically on the national security implications of climate change could guide a co-ordinated, whole-of-government response to climate risks,” the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee says.

Submissions to the committee suggest Australia’s response to climate security is poorly co-ordinated and compares unfavourably with the UK and US.

The report says there is no climate security plan, but some national strategies on the topic are particularly relevant, such as the 2015 National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy.

Last month the Turnbull Government established a National Resilience Taskforce to examine ways of reducing the impact of natural disasters – a move welcomed by the Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience & Safer Communities.

“The roundtable has highlighted the importance of greater mitigation funding to help protect the nation’s communities from the impacts of natural disasters,” a spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “Roundtable members look forward to working with the taskforce to help build more resilient communities.”