Environmental effects and spatial inequalities of paddy field utilization are increasing in China.

Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of the environmental effects associated with paddy field utilization (PFU) is imperative for safeguarding the availability of food while preserving the environment. While thorough investigations have been carried out on the individual environmental effects of PFU, study on comprehensive environmental effects of PFU and the spatial inequity issues stemming from the transfer of these effects are scarce. This study aims to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), nitrogen emissions (NE), and water consumption (WC) linked to PFU in China from 2000 to 2020.