The “Carbon Fat Cats 2011” study by the UK environmental non-profit Sandbag shows Czech power giant ČEZ to be an oddity among its European energy peers. ČEZ has a huge surplus of emissions allowances while most companies in the sector — including giants like Germany’s E.ON and RWE — are running huge deficits. Generous government treatment for ČEZ, which is set to continue, is seen as the main reason.

The UN Security Council this Wednesday is set to discuss the possible expansion of the world body’s mission to keep the peace via a new environmental peacekeeping force — “green helmets” alongside the tradional blue one — which could step into conflicts caused by shrinking resources. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is expected to address the meeting and Czech president Václav Klaus, a noted skeptic of prevailing theories on global warming, is certain to protest.

Czech Police and environmental activists clashed again Tuesday in what the former admit to be a losing battle to protect trees infected by the bark beetle from logging. Environmentalists say the zone was earmarked as one where logging would not take place and nature would run its course. But the Šumava National Park’s new management says chopping down the trees is needed to stop the beetles’ advance.

The Czech Cabinet filled the awkward vacancy of head of the Energy Regulation Authority (ERÚ) on Wednesday. The new chairwoman , Alena Vitásková, has close links to the gas sector, which is not reportedly to the likes of electricity giant ČEZ. President Václav Klaus, who would soon have got more powers over the appointment, has also lost out.