Rice-based agroecosystems face significant environmental challenges due to intensive fertilizer use, excessive irrigation and pesticide application. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly proposed as precision tools to mitigate these impacts, yet a consolidated assessment of their environmental performance remains lacking. This systematic review addresses this gap by synthesizing 389 publications and conducting a quantitative analysis of 131 field-based studies published between 2014 and 2024, following PRISMA guidelines. Results show that UAV deployment reduces nitrogen fertilizer use by ~16%, pesticide application by ~22%, irrigation water use by ~22%, and greenhouse gas emissions by ~17%, while improving nitrogen and water use efficiency by ~18%. These benefits were amplified when UAVs were integrated with multisensor platforms, AI-guided decision systems, and variable-rate application technologies. In irrigation management, UAVs equipped with thermal and multispectral sensors enabled precise monitoring of field moisture levels, facilitating smart irrigation scheduling and contributing to water savings. Despite these promising outcomes, risks such as spray drift, uneven coverage, higher fertilizer loss due to leaching or volatilization, and uncertainties in emission estimates persist, underscoring the importance of cautious management. Overall, this review highlights UAVs as enabling technologies for achieving environmentally sustainable, climate-resilient rice cultivation and outlines critical research priorities for optimizing their deployment across diverse agroecosystems. ​