Astute combination of basic functionality and luminescence property can pursue multifunctional metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) with assorted applications such as selective CO 2 adsorption, specific detection of explosive nitro compounds, and toxic metal ion sensing. The bifunctional ligand 4-(4-carboxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazole (HL) is used to build the framework [Cd(L) 2 ]•(DMF) 0.92 (1) (L = L −1 , DMF = N,N′-dimethylformamide), having a free N atom decorated porous channel. The solvothermal synthesis is extended to produce three isoskeletal frameworks in diverse solvents, where pore size maximizes in 2 by employing N,N′-diethylformamide solvent. The activated framework [Cd(L) 2 ] exhibits strong CO 2 affinity with good CO 2 /N 2 selectivity, and shows minimum CO 2 loss during five adsorption−desorption cycles. Sensing studies for nitro-aromatic compounds in DMF reveal highly specific detection of 2,4,6-trinitophenol (TNP) with remarkable quenching (K SV = 9.3 × 10 4 M −1 ) and low limit of detection (LOD: 0.3 ppm). The quenching mechanism is ascribed to the combined existence of static and dynamic quenching plus resonance energy transfer. The activated framework further shows highly selective luminescent detection of Cu 2+ ions with a quenching constant of 4.4 × 10 3 M −1 and very low LOD of 3.9 ppm. The detection of Cu 2+ ions accompanies a visible color change in solution and solid phase, which validates the present system as a potential colorimetric Cu 2+ sensor. Of note is that bifunctional sensor shows excellent reusability toward TNP and Cu 2+ detection. Overall, selective and multicycle CO 2 adsorption, together with efficient sensing of both TNP and Cu 2+ ion, manifest this pore-functionalized MOF as a versatile material for sustainability.