Laurence Tubiana, Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP 21 for France presents the view from the French Presidency that had the unique responsibility for designing and implementing the facilitation strategy for the Paris negotiations. The key strategic goal was reaching a “durable framework” that would foster significant and lasting climate impact. This called for a comprehensive agreement, spanning not only the global level but also the local level – and with the buy-in of stakeholders across all sectors and geographies. France therefore put great emphasis on an inclusive, consultative process as a basis to rebuild the trust lost at the Copenhagen summit. Tubiana fleshes out the major contribution of constructive lead negotiators across coalitions, while also emphasizing the role of civil society, science, business, and media to create the conditions ahead of and at the COP for a successful outcome. Finally, Tubiana identifies novel elements of regime design as important to the reaching of a final, impactful deal, such as new burden-sharing formula or the “ratchet mechanism” for raising ambition every five years.