Climate change advocates and analysts fear setbacks to climate action following the United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union, Chris Mooney reports for The Washington Post. The Brexit vote leaves many wondering how the UK’s departure will affect the European Union (EU), which taken as a whole is the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitter.

Many fear that the exit of climate leader Britain could weaken the EU’s climate ambitions. Concerns also abound that the general chaos around Brexit could distract from or derail climate policies, clean energy investments, and more.

There’s also added uncertainty around the Paris Agreement when it comes to determining how the European Union will meet its ambitious targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions and the orchestration around its formal joining onto the agreement.

Image: UK Prime Minister David Cameron speaks at the Climate Summit at UN headquarters in 2014. Cameron announced his resignation following the Brexit vote to leave the European Union | Photo Credit: UN Photo/Amanda Voisard