Urgent measures must be taken to protect County Dur-ham's rural beauty spots, an MP has warned.
Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland, said rare plants and wildlife are being threatened by climate change and action must be taken to stop it.
Speaking in the Commons, Mrs Goodman said: "We have only ten to 15 years to stabilise and reduce emissions.
"Plants such as the spring gentian, which only grow in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, will be completely destroyed by global warming."
She said countries that do not tackle climate change should be punished, but said measures taken need not hurt local businesses.
And she pointed to the Barnard Castle GlaxoSmith-Kline plant, which uses windmills to produce electricity, as an example of how a new "green economy" could benefit.
Mrs Goodman also praised the Barnard Castle farmers' market and an eco-friendly fuel project at CAA Roofing in Evenwood, near Bishop Auckland
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