The Van Allen belt is merely an area in the atmosphere where the solar charged radiation made up of high energy protons and electrons from the Sun somewhat gets "trapped" or stopped by the Earth's magnetic effect.
This is really a good news
When I first heard about ozone depletion In my secondary school days and the impending danger its absence will cause, I most times ask my self what we be our fate as humans when this ozone is totally depleted by man's activities. You could imagine the numbers of car and machines that run on hydrocarbons and releasing CO as a by product.
This is really welcomed development..... I believe they will look more into it. The intensity of sun reaching us from a thousand miles away is dangerous to our skin as you have rightly stated above. The importance of trapping this sun rays and reducing its intensity will be of benefit to us all. Just as @gentleshaid have said not all man's activities are dangerous.
Lovely article @greenrun