With rapid global industrialization, environmental pollution has become one of the major problems of human society. Photocatalysis can be applied to solve environmental problem by using inexhaustible solar energy. As a novel two-dimensional material, graphite carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) has been widely applied in many photocatalytic reactions. However, in terms of its practical applications, g-C₃N₄still has limitations, including poor photoexcited charge separation, limited range of visible light absorption, and low surface areas. Hence, current research on g-C₃N₄mainly focuses on improving its photocatalytic performance. In this review, we summarize various methods to improve g-C₃N₄’s light absorption and photo-induced charge transfer, including vacancy engineering, morphology control, heteroatom doping, and forming heterostructure. The applications of g-C₃N₄and its derivatives in photodegradation of organic pollutants are also discussed in detail. Finally, the challenges and future research directions of g-C₃N₄photocatalysts are summarized to promote their environmental applications.Graphical Abstract