<p>Cataluminescence (CTL), a gas-solid chemiluminescence phenomenon generated during the catalytic oxidation of analytes, has emerged as a powerful platform for real-time detection of environmental pollutants. Compared with conventional analytical techniques such as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, CTL-based sensors feature rapid response, high sensitivity, low background noise, and the potential for miniaturization and field deployment. Over the past decades, CTL sensing research has advanced along two complementary directions: the rational design of catalytic materials to enhance sensitivity, selectivity, and operational stability; and the innovation of sensor architectures, including preconcentration-assisted sampling, aerosol coupling, and energy-enhanced excitation, to improve detection limits and adaptability. Parallel developments in CTL sensor arrays and multi-signal strategies have further enabled multidimensional analysis for complex pollutant mixtures. These advancements have extended CTL applications from volatile organic compounds to diverse gases and emerging contaminants. This review systematically discusses CTL principles, material design strategies, recent progress in device engineering, and representative environmental applications. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives for the development of next-generation CTL-based environmental monitoring systems are outlined.</p>