Howard Shih

About Howard Shih

Howard Shih is the FI Standards Lead for the SBTi. He fights climate change by enabling financial institutions to set climate targets that lead to decarbonization and a net-zero economy. This includes leading projects to define and promote best practice, providing resources and advisory services, and validating targets.Prior to joining the SBTi, Howard worked 11+ years in the financial sector as a credit risk specialist. He managed portfolios in support of the corporate banking business at BofA and fixed-income investments at the BIS. He also oversaw all credit risk and compliance matters for the BIS Representative Office for Asia and the Pacific.Howard holds a MBA from INSEAD, BS from NYU Stern, and the Sustainability & Climate Risk and FRM certificates from GARP. He also previously held the CFA designation (but is no longer paying dues).Originally from NYC, Howard has also lived in Spain, Singapore, France, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. In his free time, he enjoys traveling (77 countries and counting), exercising (e.g, hiking, basketball, yoga, krav maga), and playing with his two dogs.

Experience

1. Financial Institutions Standards Lead

   Science Based Targets initiative

   Jan 2025 — Present

   Overview: Fighting climate change through developing and promoting climate target-setting standards for financial institutions that lead to decarbonization and a net-zero economy; providing resources and advisory services to reduce barriers to adoption; and validating targets• Working as a team to develop a standard for financial institutions to set net-zero targets (FINZ Standard)• Led the SBTi Financial Institutions\' Near-Term Criteria Version 2.0 update to increase ambition, improve clarity, and address feasibility challenges of financial institutions setting near-term science-based emissions reduction targets• Headed the SBTi Private Equity Sector Science-Based Target Guidance project after its publication, developing customized resources for private equity firms and the Initiative Climat International (e.g, blogs, webinars, FAQ)• Authored an unpublished white paper on potential target-setting methods and criteria for capital market activities (i.e, securities underwriting) as well as reviewed and revised the SBTi Insurance Industry Brief, WRI Financial Institutions Net Zero Tracker and SBTi Buildings Sector Science-Based Target-Setting Criteria• Evaluated and/or supervised the validation of targets from over 120 (and counting) financial institutions• Provide ad-hoc advice and advisory services to financial institutions to support them in developing science-based targets• Regularly delivered training on the SBTi target-setting framework and contributed to webinars, case studies, media responses, and other communications materials to promote the SBTi• Represented and promoted the SBTi as an industry expert at conferences, events, etc. and fostered relationships, engagements, and collaborations with external partners and stakeholders (e.g, PCAF, NZBA, NZAOA, UNEP-FI, Ceres, GFANZ, IIGCC, GHG Protocol)

Education

• NYU in Madrid

  Study Abroad (Semester)

  2006 — 2006

• Stuyvesant High School

  High School

  2000 — 2004

• Nanyang Technological University Singapore

  International Business Exchange Program (Semester)

  2007 — 2007

• INSEAD

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

  2011 — 2012

• NYU Stern School of Business

  Bachelor of Science, Finance, Accounting, International Business

  2004 — 2008