Global degree of freedom (8)

I believe the answer is:

latitude

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'freedom' is the definition.
(I know that latitude is a type of freedom)

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for latitude that I've seen before include "Room to manoeuvre or distance from equator" , "Licence" , "Compass - allowance - tolerance" , "Unrestricted" , "Imaginery line around the earth" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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