Final answer:
According to Gutman, the apocalyptic thinking of the 1970s was driven by economic crises and environmental disasters. This thinking was relevant to the Theory of Himalayan Degradation due to the heightened urgency for addressing environmental degradation during that period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors contributing to apocalyptic thinking of the 1970s, according to Gutman, include economic crises and environmental disasters. This type of thinking was relevant to the Theory of Himalayan Degradation due to the urgency that came with addressing environmental degradation. The era was marked by a growing awareness that industrial production had adverse effects on the environment, leading to sustainability and edgrowth movements. Among these were discussions about the negative impact of the Green Revolution, which, despite its successes in increasing food production, led to increased debt for small farmers, reduced biodiversity, and pollution of soil and water. Apocalyptic thinking, fueled by an understanding of these problems, was a response to the perceived imminent ecological collapse if no alteration of current industrial mechanisms was undertaken.
Gutman's relevance to the Theory of Himalayan Degradation is that the urgency witnessed in the 1970s was a driving force behind addressing such environmental issues. This indicates that during times of crisis, societies may be more inclined to contemplate significant changes in how they interact with the environment, which is essential to the discussion on theories such as Himalayan Degradation.