I’m in my junior year currently and I am in AP Environmental Science right now. Last year, I took AP Chemistry and skipped over physics to take APES instead. I can always take physics in my senior year, but my school offers several other science electives that I would rather take (geology, meteorology, etc) that relate more to environmental science. The college I want to go to (SUNY-ESF) writes that three science credits are required, but four are highly recommended. Of course APES counts as a fourth science credit, but it seems like every student going into science in college is expected to take physics in high school.
I do environmental volunteering and two after-school environmental clubs/programs, and my GPA is at about 3.5. I haven’t taken my SATs yet so I’m unsure how they will affect my chances.
So, if I don’t take physics, how much will that hurt my likelihood of getting into environmental science in college? Environmental science is more biology and chemistry oriented, but is a background in physics still very important?
I can’t say for sure, but I do not think you need a background in physics for this class. They should teach you any background information you need to know. Taking a class more related to environmental science will be an advantage for you. Best of luck 
The Environmental Science major at SUNY-ESF requires two terms of college physics. Physics is one of those subjects where prior familiarity helps a lot.
Concur with @allyphoe. My son was an Environmental Science major and required a year of Physics. Definitely try to fit it in some having exposure now in HS will help you in college.
@allyphoe @Gumbymom Thank you! Do you think not taking physics in high school will seriously damage my chances of being accepted?
Don’t just think about being accepted, think about how you will do once you get to college. Based on @allyphoe and @Gumbymom post, it certainly sounds like a background in physics will be helpful in your major. In addition most colleges do like to see the sequence of bio, chem, and physics taken in high school. To me, physics sounds like the clear choice for next year’s science class.
We were told by a staffer from one of science departments at the University of Rochester that it was definitely better to take physics in high school so that when you take it in college, you have already seen some or much of the material