Atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) is a new type of atmospheric pressure plasma discharge technology. It is generated under atmospheric pressure and has the advantages of low discharge temperature and excitation voltage, flexible discharge device, simple and safe operation. It can be produced in atmospheric environment, and has a wide range of application prospects in biomedicine, environmental health, material modification and other fields. The applications of APPJ in the environmental field such as environmental sanitation and pollution control at home and abroad in recent years were comprehensively summarized, especially the applications of environmental sterilization, environmental pollutant removal and environmental algae treatment, and its jet equipment, treatment styles, effects and mechanisms were elaborated. Based on the research status, the existing problems and solutions in the field of APPJ environment were discussed, including its sterilization and degradation mechanism, scale-up of test, design of plasma jet generator and development of plasma jet power supply. Finally, the future development direction and trend of the application of this technology in the field of environment were prospected.