Progress in fundamental understanding of atmospheric chemistry in the
past decades has enabled the development of advanced environmental
predictive capability. Accurate chemical weather forecasts and source
attribution information can play a decisive role in mitigating the
exposure of the public to acute air pollution episodes in the
short-term. Chemical climate projections will allow investigation of the
long-term consequences of human choices and their impact on the future
evolution of the Earth system. This commentary stresses the importance
of integrating atmospheric chemistry in operational environmental
prediction and projection systems.