Sisi Meng brings data-driven climate insight to Dyson School

Sisi Meng | Senior Lecturer | Dyson School

Meet Sisi Meng, one of our newest faculty members to join the Cornell University SC Johnson College of Business. She earned her PhD in economics from Florida International University and her master’s degree in policy economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining to the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics, Meng was a faculty member at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Colorado Denver.

Meng’s research focuses on environmental and natural resource economics, with an emphasis on the economic aspects of climate change adaptation and natural hazard risk mitigation. Her work also integrates interdisciplinary approaches across labor, health, development, socioeconomics and geography. She is particularly interested in applying geographic information system (GIS) techniques to spatial cost-benefit analyses of complex environmental issues. Meng is currently working on several projects, including studies of household preferences for sea-level rise adaptation policies, the socioeconomic impacts and perceptions of coastal vulnerability, and the resilience of critical infrastructures in the face of hurricanes. She serves as an editorial board member of Communications Earth & Environment and Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

What is a business accomplishment that is important to you, your work, or the world at large?

“In this study, I analyzed 92 countries (2010–2020) and found a clear two-way relationship: strong environmental governance reduces future disaster-related displacement, while displacement pressures can, in turn, push governments to improve governance readiness,” Meng says. “This work is important to me because it reflects my commitment to combining rigorous econometric methods with interdisciplinary data to address urgent global challenges. It also demonstrates that investments in institutional capacity and socioeconomic resilience can save lives and reduce the human toll of climate disasters. At a global level, where over 260 million people were displaced by weather events between 2008 and 2018, my findings provide actionable evidence for policymakers — highlighting governance as a key lever for climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction.”

What is a current issue in business or business education that you are interested in, and why is it important to you and your work?

“I am broadly interested in sustainability issues, particularly how businesses can adapt to and mitigate climate-related risks,” Meng says. “A current issue in business that greatly interests me is how firms build resilience and manage risks in the face of extreme climate-related events. Increasingly frequent hurricanes, floods, and heatwaves are disrupting supply chains, labor markets, and infrastructure, posing significant financial and operational risks. I am particularly interested in understanding how businesses can develop effective risk reduction strategies into decision-making. This issue matters because business resilience is not only critical for economic stability but also for protecting communities that depend on these businesses. My research on climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction directly contributes to this discussion by identifying socioeconomic vulnerabilities and evaluating the effectiveness of resilience strategies. I am also keenly interested in public opinion regarding corporate responsibility in addressing climate change. Understanding how consumers and communities view the obligations of the private sector can shape both corporate sustainability strategies and policy frameworks. Strong public expectations might push firms to adopt more sustainable practices, making this an area where academic research can inform both business strategy and societal outcomes.”