There are clear needs for developing other channels of financial intermediation in the longer term, in order to promote diversification and ensure financial stability and sustainable growth. However while the capital markets on the Mainland are still in their nascent stage and face some difficulties in development, the banking system will remain the most important channel of financial intermediation in the foreseeable future. Thus, those engaged in the banking sector will continue, for a long period of time, to play an important role in ensuring the effective intermediation of funds. Given the rapidly changing macroeconomic environment, the banking sector professionals face a difficult task in achieving this mission. The changes involved in this broad picture include supervisory policies for the banking sector, relationship between the regulatory authority and banks, and governance arrangements of individual banks. In line with the government’s reform and open policies and under the supervision of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, Mainland banks have become increasingly commercialized. Banking professionals have progressed from their former mode of following the authorities’ policy instructions to a more active role in assessment of loan applications before making credit decisions. This is not an easy change. It involves both time and considerable adjustment in the thinking. Besides, good tools are a must for a good job: bank employees have to increase their knowledge of the banking business in a market economy and enhance their professional standards.
(ii) Data disclosure and stress test methodologies, in order to measure more and more precisely and credibly climate-related risks of financial institutions. It is a prerequisite before possibly deciding about additional capital requirements. For these tasks, believe me: we in NGFS are ready to “roll up our sleeves”, and still have the enthusiasm of the pioneers. ** In conclusion, acceleration has been the name of the game since 2017. Still, we should further accelerate in 2021. We have an exceptional political alignment, with major international milestones: the COP26 of course, but also a G7 summit in June, a G20 conference in July in Venice, and a G20 summit in October in Rome. It is time for all policy makers – us included – to be up to Hans Jonas requirement, for the future wholeness of Man. Thank you for your attention. i  Hans Jonas, The Imperative of Responsibility: In Search of an Ethics for the Technological Age. Responsible Investment Report of the Banque de France 2019, June 2020. iii “Progress report on bridging data gaps”, NGFS Report, 26 May 2021. iv “The role of central banks in the greening of the economy”, Speech by François Villeroy de Galhau, 11 February 2021 v “Adapting central bank operations to a hotter world: Reviewing some options”, NGFS Report, 24 March 2021. ii