Cryptocurrency wallet startup Blockchain is partnering with representatives from the United Nations Development Programme and the UN Refugee Agency to explore applications of blockchain in a range of areas, from natural resource conservation to the protection of democratic systems.

The partnership, announced Thursday, sees the U.K.-based company working with those from the UNDP and the UNHCR, as well as the World Economic Forum (WEF). As part of that work, a new white paper has been produced that dives into some of those issues as they relate to the international group's work on sustainable development.

Indeed, the technology has been raised as one possible avenue for addressing some of the areas in the UN's Sustainable Development Agenda. As previously reported by CoinDesk, UN representatives have discussed how blockchain could be used to provide digital identification to refugees, among other areas.

Blockchain is betting that its new white paper will help advance some of those conversations. In a statement, the company said the release "provides a first step in helping policy makers, regulators and UN Member States gain an understanding of blockchain technology."

The startup also announced that its co-founder, Nic Cary, will join the Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development, which was launched in September of last year.

"The future is now and it is imperative that we engage in a multi-stakeholder approach and develop transparent and replicable policy around solutions that will advance humanity and allow these technologies to drive the Sustainable Development Agenda in ways that are currently unimaginable," Fernandez de Cordova, who serves as vice chairman of the commission, said in a statement.

Correction: This article has been updated for clarity. 

Disclosure: CoinDesk is a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which has an ownership stake in Blockchain.

The full white paper can be found below:

The Future is Decentralised by CoinDesk on Scribd

U.N. headquarters image via Shutterstock