Dataset for "Strategies for climate change mitigation in rice farming should account for biodiversity"

Climate change and biodiversity loss are two interconnected global crises, yet mitigation efforts often address them in isolation. Rice farming plays a dual role in these agri-environmental challenges—both as a significant global contributor to greenhouse gas emissions but also as a key agroecosystem supporting freshwater biodiversity. Water-saving irrigation strategies have been globally promoted to reduce methane emissions in rice, yet emerging evidence reveals that these strategies may have collateral negative outcomes for aquatic organisms. This article highlights the urgent need for more research that holistically assesses the diverse impacts of climate change mitigation in rice farming and argues for a spatiotemporal framework to ensure that mitigation policies do not exacerbate biodiversity loss. Finally, we discuss how carbon market incentives should incorporate biodiversity outcomes to prevent unintended environmental trade-offs.