The research progresses on current-carrying tribological behavior of materials under service environmental influences were reviewed herein. It was summarized that the tribological performance and the dynamic evolution of electrical arcs under various environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature, atmosphere, crosswind, and air pressure. The mechanism of current-carrying wear under different service environments was clarified, along with the roles of third‑body media (e.g., water, ice, oxide films) induced by the environments in wear damage and arc erosion of the friction pairs. The intrinsic relationship between external environmental factors and material damage in current-carrying friction pairs was revealed to advance the development of current-carrying friction theory.